International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
WENCHwench, wensh (shiphchah): The word "wench" is found only in 2 Samuel 17:17 the King James Version, where the Revised Version (British and American) has "maid-servant." The Hebrew word shiphchah here used is a common term for maid-servant, female slave. the King James Version used the word "wench" to convey the meaning maid-servant, which was a common use of the word at that time, but it is now practically obsolete.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A young woman; a girl; a maiden.
2. (n.) A low, vicious young woman; a drab; a strumpet.
3. (v. i.) To frequent the company of wenches, or women of ill fame.
Strong's Hebrew
8198. shiphchah -- maid, maidservant... to spread out (as a family; see mishpachah); a female slave (as a member of the
household) -- (bond-, hand-)maid(-en, -servant),
wench, bondwoman, womanservant
... /hebrew/8198.htm - 6k
