A long seat, most often of wood, different from a stool in its greater size and importance, and, frequently, in being fixed and in having a back and arms. Specifically, the seat for persons in some official capacity, especially in a course of justice, hence, 2. The place occupied by such a bench; the room especially prepared for the placing of such a bench; a course of justice. 3. A narrow terraceorshelf in anearthworkor the like. (Sturgis, 1900)
