dench

See also: Dench

English

Etymology

Disputed. Purportedly coined by rapper Lethal Bizzle in 2010. Attested from around that time. Compare slang term hench (“muscular”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dɛnt͡ʃ/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛnt͡ʃ

Adjective

dench (comparative more dench, superlative most dench)

1. (UK, slang) Excellent; impressive; awesome.
   • 2013 June 25, Richard Moynihan, “Top 14 teenage slang translations according to Mumsnet users”, in Metro‎^[1]:

     ‘Oh God I got it so wrong last night when DS2 was being an arse. I told him he was “Dench” and got a beaming smile and a “Thanks mum”!’ – Smoothieooo

   • 2015, “Scrabble stays dench with new words”, in The Independent‎^[2]:

     Some may think it is ridic but the evolution of language means that Scrabble has to keep up to stay dench - obvs.

   • 2018 March 1, Annie Lord, “There are thirteen types of posh and I am about to tell you which one you are”, in The Tab‎^[3]:

     They just don't realise that the t-shirt line they designed, the festival they had on the grounds of their family castle and those alcoholic lollies they are desperately trying to fire up wouldn't exist if it wasn't for that dench inheritance fund.

2. (UK, slang, of a man) Well-built, muscular, attractive.
   • 2019 July 27, A Side of Miso, “Final Dench in Japan”, in YouTube:

     This is my final Dench update for 2019. I will continue the bulk into 2020 but will also incorporate a short shred at some point during the year.