wench
1Wench — (w[e^]nch), n. [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.… …
2wench´er — wench «wehnch», noun, verb. –n. 1. a girl or young woman. 2. a) a woman servant: »a kitchen wench. b) any girl considered as belonging to the class of workers or peasants: »a buxom country wench. 3. Archaic. a wanton woman. –v.i. to seek out and… …
3wench — [wench] n. [ME wenche, contr. < wenchel, child, boy, girl, young woman < OE wencel, a child, akin to wancol, unsteady (? in reference to an infant s gait): for IE base see WINCH] 1. a girl or young woman: now a derogatory or jocular term 2 …
4Wench — (w[e^]nch), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Wenched} (w[e^]ncht); p. pr. & vb. n. {Wenching}.] To frequent the company of wenches, or women of ill fame. [1913 Webster] …
5wench — wench·er; wench; …
6wench — [wentʃ] n [Date: 1200 1300; Origin: wenchel child (11 14 centuries), from Old English wencel] old use a girl or young woman, especially a servant …
7wench — [ wentʃ ] noun count 1. ) an old word for a young woman, often a servant a ) an old word for a woman who is a prostitute (=someone who has sex for money) 2. ) an offensive or humorous word for a woman …
8wench — late 13c., wenche girl or young woman, shortened from wenchel child (12c.), from O.E. wencel, probably related to wancol unsteady, fickle, weak, and cognate with O.N. vakr child, weak person, O.H.G. wanchal fickle. The word degenerated through… …
9wench — ► NOUN archaic or humorous ▪ a girl or young woman. ORIGIN abbreviation of obsolete wenchel «child, servant, prostitute» …
10wench — This old fashioned word for a girl or woman would probably only be used jokingly in modern times, though from the sixteenth century it was commonly used as an endearment to a man’s wife, daughter, or sweetheart. In the Shakespeare plays… …
