1625-35. Fletcher, Elder Brother, i. 2. In tough Welch-parsly, which our vulgar tongue is Strong hempen halters.
1638. Randolph, Hey for Honesty, iv. 1. This is a rascal deserves . . . to dance in hemp Derrick's coranto; let's choke him with Welsh parsley.
Welt, verb (colloquial).—To beat
severely. Hence welter = a
stinging blow; and welting = a
sound thrashing.
1900. Kipling, Stalky & Co., 49. He gave us eight cuts apiece—welters—for—takin' unheard-of liberties with a new master.
Wench, subs. (once literary: now
colloquial).—Orig. a child of
either sex: cf. girl, harlot, etc.;
subsequently a young woman
without any idea of bold familiarity
or wantonness long afterwards
and still frequently associated
with the term. [See quot.
1363.] Wench = a wanton,
mistress, or harlot early came into
vogue: nowadays a working girl
or woman of humble station in
life is usually implied, while in
America the word (save in vulgar
use) is confined to coloured
women, especially those in service.
As verb = to whore; wencher =
a whoremonger, mutton monger
(q.v.), wenchless = harlot-free;
wenching = whoring; and as
adj. = lecherous.
c. 1280. Ancren Riwle, 334. He biscinte Sodome & Gomorre, were, & wif, & wenchel. [He sank Sodom and Gomorrah, man, woman, and child.]
c. 1360. William of Palerne [E.E.T.S.], 1901. William & his worthi wenche [of a princess].
1363. Langland, Piers Plowman [E.E.T.S.]. [Goddes Wench = Virgin Mary, s.v. 336. Wench = harlot, s.v. 422].
1380. Wyclif, Bible, Matthew ix. 24. Go e awey, for the wenche is nat dead but slepith.
1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, 'Merl chauntes Tale,' 10076. I am a genti-*woman, and no wenche. Ibid. 'Manciples Tale.' For that other is a powre woman, She shal be cleped his wenche and his lemman.
1530. Palsgrave. I iape a wench, ie fout and ie bistocque, it is better to iape a wench than to do worse.
c. 1561. Nar. of Reform, (Camden Soc.), 171. Before I removed from the sayde howse in London I hadde two chyl-*dearne borne ther, a boy and a whench.
1578. Whetstone, Promos and Cassandra. Therefore, sweet wench, help me to rue my woe.
1588-93. Tarleton, Jests [Oliphant, New. Eng., ii. 13. Among the Verbs are, to wench, miss the likeness, . . .].
1591. Harington, Ariost., v. 20. For Ariodant so lov'd the princely wench.
1593. Shakspeare, Titus Andron., iii. 1. Bear thou my hand, sweet wench, between thy teeth. Ibid. (1598), 1 Henry IV., i. 2. A fair hot wench in flame-coloured taffeta. Ibid. (1602), Othello, v. 2. Now, how dost thou look now? O, ill-starr'd wench, Pale as thy smock. Ibid. (1602), Troilus and Cressida, v. 4. 35. What's become of the wenching rogues? Ibid. (1605), Cymbeline, iv. 2. Do not play in wench-like words with that Which is so serious. Ibid. (1609), Pericles, iv. 2. Mytilene is full of gallants. We lost too much money this mart by being too wenchless. We have but poor three.
1590. Spenser, Faery Queen, i. iii. 11. But the rude wench her answerd not at all; She could not heare, nor speake, nor understand.
1597. Hall, Satires, iv. 5. An horse-leech, barren wench, or gaping grave.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes. Biondella . . . a golden-lockt wench, as we say a goldilocks.
1599. Jonson, Every Man out of His Humour, iv. 4. Let a man sweat once a week in a hot-house, and be well rubbed and froted with a plump juicy wench and clean linen. Ibid. (1605), Eastward Hoe [Dodsley, Old Plays, iv. 221]. Thou art pandar to me for my wench, and I to thee for thy cousenage.
1601. Holland, Plinie, xxxv. x. Given he was exceedingly to wenching.
