HENCH

What Does HENCH Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

The word HENCH describes someone (typically a man) who is large, fit, and muscular.

More Detail...

The origin of the word HENCH is under debate. The most common theory is that it derives from the word henchman. Henchman originates from the Old English word "hengest" (male horse). A henchman was someone who looked after his master's horses (i.e., a squire). Later, the word developed to mean "a faithful follower or political supporter, especially one prepared to engage in crime or violence by way of service." As a squire or someone prepared to engage in violence is likely to be fairly butch, it is feasible that henchman is the origin of the adjective HENCH (meaning large, fit, and muscular). Another theory is that HENCH was born spontaneously, and it derives its sound from an amalgam of words like hunky, butch, and bench; i.e., it just sounds like it should mean large, fit, and muscular.

Image for HENCH

When I write HENCH, I mean this:

Hench means fit and muscular. It possibly derives from the word henchman.

Summary of Key Points

We have summarized the key points in the table below:

HENCH
Definition:	Well-built, Strong, Muscular
Type:	Slang Word (Jargon)
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of HENCH in Sentences

Here are examples of HENCH in sentences:

• Janet's new boyfriend is HENCH.

• The new Audi looks HENCH.
(HENCH can also be used figuratively.)

An Academic Look at HENCH

The adjective HENCH is typically used as a predicative adjective (i.e., after the thing it describes), but it can also be used as an attributive adjective (i.e., immediately before the thing it describes). For example:

• John is HENCH.
(Here, HENCH is describing John. It is a predicative adjective.)
• He is a HENCH lad.
(Here, HENCH is describing lad. It is an attributive adjective.)

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we might have said something like "butch" or "beefcake" instead of HENCH.

Example of HENCH Used in a Text

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