Wench (?), 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.]
© Webster 1913.
Wench (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wenched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Wenching.]
To frequent the company of wenches, or women of ill fame.
© Webster 1913.