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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Bench \Bench\, noun; pl. {Benches}. [OE. bench, benk, AS. benc; akin to Sw. b["a]nk, Dan b[ae]nk, Icel. bekkr, OS., D., & G. bank. Cf. {Bank}, {Beach}.]
1. A long seat, differing from a stool in its greater length.
Mossy benches supplied the place of chairs. --Sir W. Scott.
2. A long table at which mechanics and other work; as, a carpenter's bench.
3. The seat where judges sit in court.
To pluck down justice from your awful bench. --Shak.
4. The persons who sit as judges; the court; as, the opinion of the full bench. See {King's Bench}.
5. A collection or group of dogs exhibited to the public; -- so named because the animals are usually placed on benches or raised platforms.
6. A conformation like a bench; a long stretch of flat ground, or a kind of natural terrace, near a lake or river.
{Bench mark} (Leveling), one of a number of marks along a line of survey, affixed to permanent objects, to show where leveling staffs were placed. See {bench mark} in the vocabulary.
{Bench of bishops}, the whole body of English prelates assembled in council.
{Bench plane}, any plane used by carpenters and joiners for working a flat surface, as jack planes, long planes.
{Bench show}, an exhibition of dogs.
{Bench table} (Arch.), a projecting course at the base of a building, or round a pillar, sufficient to form a seat.
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |