5 Answers

I think you are right Jenn  In days of olde there were serving wenches.

In the dictionary I have (Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary) the word is listed twice,and here are the meaning's...The 1st listing say...a: a young woman:girl  b: a female servant c: a lewd woman: prostitute.    # two said...to consort with lewd women;esp: to practice fornication.   Both times the word is spelled the same.   Wench...  

I never heard the word used in a derogatory manner...When  I first read it, I didn't know if you were talking about the tool or something you can do to your back. "Serving girl" didn't even occur to me. The teacher and principal owe her an apology....

How strange! Now i often jokingly call my wife a serving whench even with my grown up children here. I often say  it when my wife pours me a beer. No offence meant or taken. I think your daughters school is be rather petty. The term Wench comes from the medievil days of the women serving in the old bars. 

From the Oxford Dictionary.....its a old english word .....a girl or young women.....v.intr.archaic (of a man) consort with prostitutes Hi Jenn it is a very old word and I think she used in the contect of hey essay it shouldnt matter but I did think the word was a bit derogatory that is my oppinion