wench

Meanings

Noun

• A girl or young woman, especially a buxom or lively one.
• : darling, sweetheart.
• A woman servant; a maidservant.
• A promiscuous woman; a mistress.
• A prostitute.
• A black woman (of any age), especially if in a condition of servitude.

Verb

• To frequent prostitutes; to whore; also, to womanize.

Origin

• The noun is derived from Middle English wench, wenche, a shortened form of Middle English wenchel, from Old English wenċel, winċel, from Proto-Germanic *wankilą, from Proto-Germanic *wankijaną. The English word is cognate with Old High German wenken, wankōn.
• The verb and adjective are derived from the noun.