comely maidens en · NOUN
Etymology
Incorrectly attributed to a speech by Irish statesman Éamon de Valera. A longer version is often misquoted as "comely maidens, dancing at the crossroads". The actual phrase, delivered in a radio broadcast on St. Patrick's Day 1943, mentions "the laughter of happy maidens, whose firesides would be forums for the wisdom of serene old age." See Wikipedia article.
Meanings
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(Ireland, plural, plural-only) An outdated stereotype of Irish women; used as a reference to misogynistic opinions.
He was surprised to see so many women workers. What did he expect, comely maidens?