Bench (?), v. 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.Shak. Shak.

Bench (?), n.; pl.Benches (?). [OE. bench, benk, AS. benc; akin to Sw. bänk, Dan bænk, 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 carpenters 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 Kings 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. -- 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 , v. i. To sit on a seat of justice. [R.] Shak.

-- Webster's unabridged 1913