Bench

Bench
/bench/, n.
Johnny, born 1947, U.S. baseball player.

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 long seat that may be freestanding, fixed to the wall, or placed against the wall. Paneled benches were used by the Romans, and they were the most common form of seating in medieval halls at a time when a chair was a rare luxury reserved for those of high status. Benches were not only used as seats but were normally wide enough to be used for sleeping on or eating from; as the Frankish ecclesiastic and historian Gregory of Tours recorded, when King Chilperic I was sitting with Bishop Bertrand, he had before him a bench bearing food.

      Benches retained their popularity as fitted seats in window alcoves, but in the 16th century they lost favour as freestanding pieces of furniture when chairs became more widely used. Upholstered versions were also made. Some of the most spectacular benches were made in the Spanish colonies in South America in the 17th century, notably in Cuzco, Peru, where benches bore enormous carved crestings and balustraded backs that were painted and gilded.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Bench — Bench, n.; 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. [1913 Webster] Mossy benches supplied the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • bench — bench·er; bench; bench·man; bench·mark·ing; …   English syllables

  • bench — [bench] n. [ME < OE benc: see BANK2] 1. a long, hard seat for several persons, with or without a back 2. a seat between the two sides of a boat 3. the place where judges sit in a court 4. [sometimes B ] a) the status or of …   English World dictionary

  • Bench — Bench, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Benched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Benching}.] 1. To furnish with benches. [1913 Webster] T was benched with turf. Dryden. [1913 Webster] Stately theaters benched crescentwise. Tennyson. [1913 Webster] 2. To place on a bench… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bench — (n.) O.E. benc long seat, from P.Gmc. *bankiz bank of earth, perhaps here man made earthwork, later bench, table (Cf. O.Fris. bank bench, O.N. bekkr, Dan. bænk, M.Du. banc, O.H.G. banch), from PIE root *bheg to break. Used for …   Etymology dictionary

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  • bench — ► NOUN 1) a long seat for more than one person. 2) a long, sturdy work table in a workshop or laboratory. 3) (the bench) the office of judge or magistrate. 4) (the bench) a seat at the side of a sports field for coaches and players not taking… …   English terms dictionary

  • Bench — Bench, v. i. To sit on a seat of justice. [R.] Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bench — (engl., spr. bensch), Bank, s. King s Bench …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

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