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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Maidin-, Madinhed(e, n. Also: maidyn-, maiddin-, maydine-, maydyn-, mayden-; madyn(e)-, maden- and -heid, -head; maydin-, madyned. [ME. maidin-hed(d (Cursor M., a 1300), -hede, e.m.E. maidenhead: cf. Maidinhad.]

1. The state of being maiden or virgin, maidenhood, virginity. Said also of men. a1400 Leg. S. xxiv. 69.
For the honoure of madyne-hed Sancte Johne the ewangelyst, we red, [etc.] Ib. 78.
I trew that God be With maydined & with humelyte Ib. xxxi. 21.
Maydinehed Ib. xxxii. 307.
Manis kynd it mon excede Here lifand to kepe madynehede c1420 Wynt. ii. 1528.
Hir douchtyre … deyd syn in hyr madynhede [C. maydynheide] 1456 Hay II. 32/17.
Thare is thre gree of chastitee … ane in mariage, ane in widowhede and ane in maidynhede that is callit virginitee a1500 Henr. Annunciation 49.
Hir mervalus haill madinhede c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts Prol.

b. In such phrases as to kepe or tyne one's maidinhede, to have, preive (a woman's) maidinhede. a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 446.
Myn madynned quhow I first tynt Thar Ib. xxviii. 38.
[Scho] kepit euire hyre madynhed In body & treutht wnuemmyt ay 1461 Liber Plusc. 387. a1500 Henr. Robene & M. 36.
Thow sall haif my hairt all haill, Eik and my madinheid a1500 Seven S. 1480.
Modere … , Ȝe had my fader in his ȝouthhed, Ilkane vtheris madynhed Ib. 236. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 83.
The lord of the ground sall have the madinheid of all virginis dwelling on the same Id. Bann. MS. 2 a/88.
Hir honor savit and hir madinheid 1567 G. Ball. 146 (see Maid-heid n.).
Madinheid 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1122. c1590 J. Stewart II. 24/325.
Hir madinhead flurissing scho buir 1596 Dalr. I. 152/18.
Thay [masters] first sould preiue thair madinheid and haue thair virginitie

2. The period of time during which a girl remains unmarried or a virgin; spinsterhood.c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke ii. 36. — 1626 Brechin Test. IV. 224 b.
To Margaret Fleschour hir dochter fourtie markis ȝerlie duringe hir maiddinheid

3. The condition or fact of being a girl. c1420 Wynt. v. 1662.
Scho … held hyr madynhed ay secre And Ewgenyus callyt be name