The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word VIRGIN
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
V
I
R
G
I
N
More clues leading to the result VIRGIN
- Six running on the rails in maiden
- Never touched alcohol after six, right?
- New spirit after pathogen does away with us
- One keeping cherry liquor accompanies very disheartened innkeeper
- She left poor shivering maiden
- As opposed to one with ring, perhaps?
- Richard Branson’s young lady?
- Chaste but gettin’ close, reportedly
- Reportedly touchin’ maiden …
- Sign a man of Rome has spirit
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "maiden" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case maiden = virgin.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does VIRGIN mean?
VIRGIN noun- A person who has never had sexual intercourse, or sometimes, one who has never engaged in any sexual activity at all.
- (early Christian Church) a woman noted for religious piety who has never been married.
- One who has never used or experienced a specified thing.
- Any of several species of gossamer-winged butterflies of the family Lycaenidae.
- A female insect producing eggs from which young are hatched, though there has been no fecundation by a male; a parthenogenetic insect.
- (usually not comparable) In a state of virginity; chaste, not having had sexual intercourse.
- Of a physical object, untouched.
- Not yet cultivated, explored, or exploited by humans or humans of certain civilizations.
- Of olive oil, obtained by mechanical means, so that the oil is not altered.
- (usually not comparable) Of mixed drinks, not containing alcohol.