Wench

[William Hupy]

Now a derogatory term, it has distinguished PIE origins. Not surprisingly to bend or curve.

[Perry Lassiter]

Can refer to a woman or a crank with a handle, which I have humorously said are the same things, while standing at a distance. I ran into the word in the mystery stories of John Dickson Carr, aka Carter Dickson, whose Falstaffian detectives called all young women wenches, more or less as a synonym for young woman. In other areas it implied either a lower class gal or one not as good as she should be. I have fun with it.

[eberntson]

We discussed this word, and had a lot of fun with it several years ago. Lots of banter with wench, wench, wrench, et al.

I use the word to great effect with women my own age or younger. Usually in a complementary way to sus out how they felt about it, it had quite a strong connotation when I grew up. Like the name "brod" it has lost a lot of its sting in the last 50 years. Still if you a free with the word and you get slapped, you deserved it. IMHO

[Perry Lassiter]

Was "brod" a typo for "broad"? Or a new word I should pick up?

[eberntson]

Well, I spell checked it on the web and the Urban Dictionary said it was right. And you are correct it more officially be "broad." Still broad used in a negative way.