בְּתוּלָה f. (b. h.; בתל, √בת, to separate; cmp. בתר; v. Ges. H. Dict. s. v.) [retired, untouched,] 1) virgin. — Pl. בְּתוּלוֹת. Tosef. Shebi. III, 14 sq. שלש ב׳ הן b’thulah is used in three ways, בְּתוּלַת אדם וכ׳ of a human being (virgin), of soil (unbroken), and of sycamores (untrimmed); Nidd. 8ᵇ; Y. ib. I, 49ᵃ. Yeb. 61ᵇ אין ב׳ אלא נערה under b’thulah (in a legal sense) a girl between twelve and twelve and a half years is meant, v. בַּגְרוּת. Ohol. XVI, 4 עד שמגיע … לב׳ until he reaches a rock or unbroken ground. Sabb. 90ᵃ בתולת הוורד a closed rose (Var. quot. in Ar., a. Ms. O. פְּתִילַת). Y. Sot. III, 19ᵃ ב׳ ציימנית an ascetic maid (retired from social pleasures); Sot. 22ᵃ (צליינית) ב׳ ציילנית a prayerful (bigoted) maid; a. fr. —2) (only in pl.) the two posts supporting the beam in the wine-press (Lat. gemelli, sorores). B. Bath. IV, 5 (67ᵇ), expl. כלונסות. —3) Virgo, sign of the Zodiac. Yalk. Ex. 418. Ib. I Kings 185. Pesik. R. s. 20.