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

Other Word Forms

• wencher 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

In the original, a proud redheaded pirate is the lead prisoner in a bridal auction, but today the “wench” has graduated to pirate status of her own and is helping to auction off stolen goods.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Was Gutenberg really in love with a wench named Helvetica, like in the show?

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Until 2018, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride featured an auction block with women for sale under the sign: “Auction, take a wench for a bride.”

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So while Landor quiets his demons in the arms of a tavern wench, it’s left to Poe to amuse us.

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As BoingBoing notes, words that have been removed as solutions include “fibre,” “pupal,” “slave,” and “wench.”

Read more on The Verge