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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Raia clavata

Maid \Maid\, n. [Shortened from maiden. ?. See Maiden.]

  1. An unmarried woman; usually, a young unmarried woman; esp., a girl; a virgin; a maiden.

    Would I had died a maid, And never seen thee, never borne thee son.
    --Shak.

    Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me.
    --Jer. ii. 3

  2. 2. A man who has not had sexual intercourse. [Obs.]

    Christ was a maid and shapen as a man.
    --Chaucer.

  3. A female servant.

    Spinning amongst her maids.
    --Shak.

    Note: Maid is used either adjectively or in composition, signifying female, as in maid child, maidservant.

  4. (Zo["o]l.) The female of a ray or skate, esp. of the gray skate ( Raia batis), and of the thornback ( Raia clavata). [Prov. Eng.]

    Fair maid. (Zo["o]l.) See under Fair, a.

    Maid of honor, a female attendant of a queen or royal princess; -- usually of noble family, and having to perform only nominal or honorary duties.

    Old maid. See under Old.

Raia clavata

Thornback \Thorn"back`\, n.

  1. (Zo["o]l.) A European skate ( Raia clavata) having thornlike spines on its back.

  2. (Zo["o]l.) The large European spider crab or king crab ( Maia squinado).