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A long seat, differing from a stool in its greater length. Mossy benches supplied the place of chairs. Sir W. Scott.

Any permanent mark to which other levels may be referred. Specif. : A horizontal mark at the water's edge with reference to which the height of tides and floods may be measured.

A process issued by a presiding judge or by a court against a person guilty of some contempt, or indicted for some crime; -- so called in distinction from a justice's warrant.

One who frequents the benches of a tavern; an idler. [Obs.]

A bench in or before an alehouse. Bunyan.

A seat in the porch of a church. Shak.

To drive from a bench or seat. [R.] Shak.

n through a drawplate; especially, one in which wire is thus made; -- also called drawing bench.

A raised work like a bench. [Obs.] Parkhurst.

d four puisne, or junior, justices. During the reign of a queen it was called the Queen's Bench. Its jurisdiction was transferred by the judicature acts of 1873 and 1875 to the high court of justice created by that legislation.

A bench on which work is performed, as in a carpenter's shop.

my Lord Russell's trial, was said to have had no little influence on the jury and all the bench to his prejudice. Evelyn.

A bench; a high seat, or seat of distinction or judgment; a tribunal or court. In banc, In banco (the ablative of bancus), In bank, in full court, or with full judicial authority; as, sittings in banc (distinguished from sittings at nisi prius).

An ornamental covering, as of carpet or leather, for a bench or form.

A bench, as for rowers in a galley; also, a tier of oars. Placed on their banks, the lusty Trojan sweep Neptune's smooth face, and cleave the yielding deep. Waller.

The stone bench on which masons cut or square their work. Weale.

A bickern; a bench anvil with a long beak, adapted to reach the interior surface of sheet metal ware; the horn of an anvil.

A bench. [North of Eng. & Scot.]

lar bishop (R. C. Ch.), a term officially substituted in 1882 for bishop in partibus. -- Bench of Bishops. See under Bench.

A long, light, open vehicle, with benches or seats running lengthwise.