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wench

1. A young woman; a girl; a maiden. 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 coloured woman; a negress.

Origin: 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.