wenchel

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• Wench — (w[e^]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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• wench — I. noun Etymology: Middle English wenche, short for wenchel child, from Old English wencel; akin to Old High German wankōn to totter, waver and probably to Old High German winchan to stagger more at wink Date: 14th century 1. a. a young woman ;… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

• wench — wencher, n. /wench/, n. 1. a country lass or working girl: The milkmaid was a healthy wench. 2. Usually facetious. a girl or young woman. 3. Archaic. a strumpet. v.i. 4. to associate, esp. habitually, with promiscuous women. [1250 1300; ME, back… …   Universalium

• Winckle — Of the three possible sources of this interesting name, the most likely origin being a metonymic occupatioonal reference to someone who kept a corner shop. It could also be a topographical name for someone who lived on a corner of land in the… …   Surnames reference

• wench — [wentʃ] n [Date: 1200 1300; Origin: wenchel child (11 14 centuries), from Old English wencel] old use a girl or young woman, especially a servant …   Dictionary of contemporary English

• wench — late 13c., wenche girl or young woman, shortened from wenchel child (12c.), from O.E. wencel, probably related to wancol unsteady, fickle, weak, and cognate with O.N. vakr child, weak person, O.H.G. wanchal fickle. The word degenerated through… …   Etymology dictionary

• wench — [wɛn(t)ʃ] noun 1》 archaic or humorous a girl or young woman. 2》 archaic a prostitute. verb archaic (of a man) consort with prostitutes. Derivatives wencher noun Origin ME: abbrev. of obs. wenchel child, servant, prostitute ; perh. related to OE… …   English new terms dictionary

• wench — [[t]wɛntʃ[/t]] n. 1) sex a girl or young woman 2) sex archaic a strumpet 3) sex to associate, esp. habitually, with promiscuous women • Etymology: 1250–1300; ME, shortening of wenchel, OE wencel child, akin to wancol tottering wench′er, n …   From formal English to slang

• wench — /wɛntʃ / (say wench) noun 1. a young woman. 2. a rustic or working woman. 3. Archaic a prostitute or promiscuous woman. –verb (i) 4. to consort with promiscuous women or prostitutes. {Middle English, variant of wenchel, Old English wencel child.… …  

• wench — ► NOUN archaic or humorous ▪ a girl or young woman. ORIGIN abbreviation of obsolete wenchel «child, servant, prostitute» …   English terms dictionary