wench

American  

[wench] / wɛntʃ /

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.

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verb (used without object)

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

wench British  

/ 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

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verb

1. archaic to frequent the company of prostitutes

Other Word Forms

• wencher noun

Etymology

Origin of wench

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

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.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From New York Times

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

From The Verge

It isn’t really fair to be an unpleasant wench all the time, just because I’m mad that I didn’t spend enough time writing, so … yeah, that poem.

From New York Times

In 2017, Disneyland at last gave women agency in its Pirates of the Caribbean attraction by removing a bridal auction scene and reimagining a female “wench” as a pirate.

From Los Angeles Times