Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Wench?

\Wench\, 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. 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\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Wenched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Wenching}.] To frequent the company of wenches, or women of ill fame.