Origin and history of virgin

c. 1200, "unmarried or chaste woman noted for religious piety and having a position of reverence in the Church," from Anglo-French and Old French virgine "virgin; Virgin Mary," from Latin virginem (nominative virgo) "maiden, unwedded girl or woman," also an adjective, "fresh, unused," probably related to virga "young shoot," via a notion of "young" (compare Greek talis "a marriageable girl," cognate with Latin talea "rod, stick, bar").

The meaning "young woman in a state of inviolate chastity" is recorded from c. 1300. Also applied since early 14c. to a chaste man. The meaning "naive or inexperienced person" is attested from 1953.

late 14c., of a female, "young, unmarried, chaste;" 1580s, "of or pertaining to a virgin, befitting a virgin;" from virgin (n.). The earliest recorded sense in English is "pure, unused, fresh, un-meddled with," in reference to wax (c. 1300), also in Middle English of honey, untilled soil (mid-15c.), later of snow (16c.). The Virgin Islands were named (in Spanish) by Columbus for St. Ursula and her 11,000 martyred virgin companions.