wench
/wɛn(t)ʃ
/noun
1 archaic or humorous A girl or young woman: in the new film about Columbus, she plays the token buxom wench...
- Before the night is out they will no doubt have all found the attentions of a pretty young serving wench.
- Smiling brightly, the buxom wench dipped a courtesy to them both as she pocketed their payment.
- To the teenage wenches in Hindley Street who thought I was a visiting celebrity - thanks.
2 archaic A prostitute.The boss is a friendly Norwegian and the working wenches are usually lively and cheerful....
- I'm a paladin, not some whore or bar wench, I need nothing from either of you.
- I resent being called a wench and besides I think you're the slut, Tiffany!
verb [no object] archaic
(Of a man) habitually associate with prostitutes.
Derivatives
wencher
- He was the manifest ruffian, wencher, whoremonger, and most infamous cuckold-maker that ever breathed.
- In most of our minds, he is a withdrawn, lonely figure, brave but enigmatic - scarcely to be compared with his rival, who was combative, a drinker and something of a wencher.
- In the picturesque port city of Bahia, Flor, a lovely young woman, marries the wastrel Vadinho, a compulsive wencher who beats her.
Origin
Middle English: abbreviation of obsolete wenchel 'child, servant, prostitute'; perhaps related to Old English wancol 'unsteady, inconstant'.
Wench is an abbreviation of obsolete wenchel ‘child, servant, prostitute’; it is perhaps related to Old English wancol ‘unsteady, inconstant’.