Date:  Fri, 22 Jul 1994 14:38:09 -0500

From:  Natalie Maynor <maynor[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]RA.MSSTATE.EDU>

Subject: Iron Maiden?



I just got a note from somebody not in academia who is interested in

finding out the etymology of the expression "iron maiden" or "iron virgin."

Here's part of what he said:



>  I know what the instrument does (or

> did), when, where and how it was used, and that it probably comes to us

> from the German "eiserne Jungfrau". But I have been totally unsuccessful

> in figuring out anything beyond that. Specifically, why virgin or

> maiden? A reference to the Madonna? Was there a famous use of the

> instrument on someone who was (or was not) a virgin? I have plenty of

> conjectures, but what I'm looking for is someone who has done or knows of

> research in the actual derivation of the term.



If you have any information about the term, please send it to kozinski[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]

mizar.usc.edu -- you might also post it to the list since others are

probably interested. Thanks.

  --Natalie (maynor[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ra.msstate.edu)