Wench (w&ebreve;nch), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wenched (w&ebreve;ncht); p. pr. & vb. n. Wenching.]
To frequent the company of wenches, or women of ill
fame.
Wench (w&ebreve;nch), 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.]
Hear it pronounced