Where does “wenche” come from?

wenche (Middle English) comes from Middle English wenchel, from Old English wenċel, from Proto-Germanic wankilą, from Proto-Germanic wankijaną, from Proto-Indo-European weng- — to bend, bow, arch, curve; to bow, be bent; to...

wenche (Middle English): an unmarried girl, maiden; a young woman

Definitions

  1. an unmarried girl, maiden; a young woman

Ancestry of “wenche”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishwenchelgirl; maiden; child
2Old Englishwenċelchild
3Proto-Germanicwankilą—
4Proto-Germanicwankijanąto sway; to sway; waver
5Proto-Indo-Europeanweng-to bend, bow, arch, curve; to bow, be bent; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weng- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wankijaną →Every word from Proto-Germanic wankilą →