noun / verb
wench
WENCH/wentʃ/
A girl or young woman, in historical or disparaging speech.
The old village tale follows a young wench through medieval England.
Etymology
The earlier word meant a child or girl. Its use for young women acquired disparaging and sexual senses, helping explain why a once ordinary label now sounds old-fashioned or offensive.
In context
crafty, ill- conditioned monster, to see my blooming youth— still in its teens, for I am not yet twenty— wasting and withering away beneath the husk of a rude peasant wench;
More examples
- She resents being called a wench.
- The innkeeper orders the wenches to bring more bread.
- In the play, the knight spends his nights wenching.
Forms
wench · wenches · wenched · wenching