Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Bench
Bench
,Noun.
pl.
Benches
. 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
. Shakespeare
4.
The persons who sit as judges; the court;
as, the opinion of the full
. See bench
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.
Bench
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Benched
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Benching
.] 1.
To furnish with benches.
'T was
benched
with turf. Dryden.
Stately theaters
benched
crescentwise. Tennyson.
2.
To place on a bench or seat of honor.
Whom I . . . have
benched
and reared to worship. Shakespeare
Bench
,Verb.
I.
To sit on a seat of justice.
[R.]
Shak.
Webster 1828 Edition
Bench
BENCH
, n.1.
A long seat,usually of board or plank, differing from a stool in its greater length.2.
The seat where judges sit in court; the seat of justice. Hence,3.
The persons who sit as judges; the court.Free bench, in England, the estate in copy hold lands, which the wife, being espoused a virgin, has for her dower, after the decease of her husband. This is various in different manors, according to their respective customs.
King's Bench, in England, a court in which the king formerly sat in person, and which accompanied his household. The court consists of the Lord Chief Justice, and three other justices, who have jurisdiction over all matters of a criminal or public nature. It has a crown side and a plea side; the former determining criminal, the latter, civil causes.
BENCH
,Verb.
T.
1.
To seat on a bench.2.
v.i. To sit on a seat of justice.