Phrase guide

iron maiden

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A falsely or neo-medieval torture device invented in the 18th century consisting of a chamber lined with spikes which closes upon and impales the victim inside.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

instrument of torture consisting of a hollow iron frame shaped like the human body and lined with spikes to impale the victim

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: instrument of torture

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 鐵處女 /铁处女 (tiěchǔnǚ) — torture device
  • Chinese Mandarin: 鐵娘子 /铁娘子 (tiěniángzǐ) — torture device
  • Czech: železná panna — torture device
  • Finnish: rautaneitsyt — torture device
  • French: vierge de fer — torture device
  • French: vierge de Nuremberg — torture device
  • German: eiserne Jungfrau — torture device
  • Greek: σιδηρά παρθένος (sidirá parthénos) — torture device
  • Hungarian: vasszűz — torture device
  • Italian: vergine di ferro — torture device
  • Italian: vergine di Norimberga — torture device
  • Japanese: 鉄の処女 (tetsu-no shojo) — torture device
  • Portuguese: dama de ferro — torture device
  • Portuguese: donzela de ferro — torture device
  • Portuguese: virgem de ferro — torture device
  • Romanian: fecioară de fier — torture device
  • Russian: желе́зная де́ва (želéznaja déva) — torture device
  • Spanish: doncella de hierro — torture device
  • Swedish: järnjungfru — torture device
  • Turkish: demir bakire — torture device