Where does “wench” come from?

Wench comes from Middle English wenche, derived from Middle English wenchel, from Old English wenċel, from Proto-Germanic wankilą and wankijaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European weng-.

wench (English): A girl or young woman, especially a buxom or...

Definitions

  1. A girl or young woman, especially a buxom or...

Ancestry of “wench”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishwench—
2Middle Englishwenchelgirl; maiden; child
3Old Englishwenċelchild
4Proto-Germanicwankilą—
5Proto-Germanicwankijanąto sway; to sway; waver
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweng-to bend, bow, arch, curve; to bow, be bent; to...

Words derived from “wench”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European weng- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wankijaną →Every word from Proto-Germanic wankilą →