Know your English

[Kumar]

Why is a over without runs called maiden and first achievement in cricket called maiden? Seems contradictory? There is probably an explanation online, but wanted to see if some of the knowledgeable forum members know the reason?

[arjun2761]

The origins are likely not PC today but derived from maidens being virgins or untouched…

[prasen9]

Interesting that someone on Quora said: Hey, it's "bowl a maiden over" and not "bowl the maiden over" when someone asked what "bowl the maiden over" means in cricket lol. But that makes me think: what are the origins of bowling a maiden over in life (not cricket) ... one wonders?

[Kumar]

So which came first bowl the maiden over or bowl a maiden over?

Thanks, Arjun. I never thought that maiden in cricket got its origin from that perspective. I am still surprised that there is not protest against using ‘maiden’ to describe those achievements.

[prasen9]

Nobody thinks about why we call it that. The Aussies at one time talked about some of these terms being changed, and some of them like batsman, etc. have been changed. I used batter when I do not specifically want to refer to the men's game.

Cricket lexicon change called for.

Although, I do not think fine leg actually refers to a fine leg. It is in the legside and when the batter gets a fine nick, the ball goes there. But, hey, if people want to enjoy a fine leg glance, who am I to prevent them?

[Atithee]

Why do so many people in India spell video as vedio? Is it the phonetics? The other thing is use of past tense, like, did you returned the book? It’s so so common, especially the latter. Any idea why?

[jayakris]

Many Indians say "veedio" too with an accent on the first syllable. Wonder if that has anything to do with it. Not sure.