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.