Category:Wench

Wench, n. Etym: [oe. wenche, for older wenchel a child, originally, Weak, tottering; cf. As. wencle a maid, a daughter, wencel a pupil, Orphan, wincel, winclu, children, offspring, wencel weak, wancol Unstable, ohg. wanchol; perhaps akin to e. wink. See wink.]

1. A young woman; a girl; a maiden. Shak. Lord and lady, groom and wench. Chaucer. That they may send again my most sweet wench, and gifts to boot. Chapman. He was received by the daughter of the house, a pretty, buxom, blue- Eyed little wench. W. Black.

2. A low, vicious young woman; a drab; a strumpet. She shall be called his wench or his leman. Chaucer. It is not a digression to talk of bawds in a discourse upon wenches. Spectator.

3. A colored woman; a negress. [u. S.]

Wench Wench, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wenched; p. pr. & vb. n. Wenching.]

Defn: to frequent the company of wenches, or women of ill fame.