wench

[ wench ]

noun

1. a country lass or working girl:

   The milkmaid was a healthy wench.

2. Usually Facetious. a girl or young woman.
3. Archaic. a strumpet.

verb (used without object)

1. to associate, especially habitually, with promiscuous women.

wench

/ wɛntʃ /

noun

1. a girl or young woman, esp a buxom or lively one: now used facetiously
2. archaic.
   a female servant
3. archaic.
   a prostitute

verb

1. archaic.
   to frequent the company of prostitutes

Derived Forms

• ˈwencher, noun

Other Words From

• wencher noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wench¹

1250–1300; Middle English, back formation from wenchel, Old English wencel child, akin to wancol tottering, said of a child learning to walk; akin to German wankeln to totter

Word History and Origins

Origin of wench¹

Old English wencel child, from wancol weak; related to Old High German wanchal, wankōn

Example Sentences

She could have auditioned to be the tavern wench or a faerie; instead, she signed on as a merchant, knitting chain-mail bikinis.

From The Daily Beast

The sub-text: “The picture editor wants to see me dressed up like a buxom serving wench.”

From The Daily Beast

She was fair as a lily, with bright golden hair, and bore no resemblance to this dark-eyed, black-browed wench.

From Project Gutenberg

I hate the wench, wi' her cunning black eyes lookin a body through.

From Project Gutenberg

I am no peasant wench to be charmed either by your gay coat or your gay manner.

From Project Gutenberg

They all died in time, and everybody knows that Melusina became a kitchen wench in Hell.

From Project Gutenberg

He caught my child up like a common street wench, a thing of sale and barter.

From Project Gutenberg