‖ banquette
(bɑ̃ˈkɛt)
[Fr., ad. It. banchetta, dim. of banca ‘bench, shelf.’ Formerly anglicized as banket, -quet.]
1. A raised way running along the inside of a rampart or parapet, or bottom of a trench, on which soldiers stand to fire at the enemy.
| 1629 S'hertogenbosh 19 We began to make..Trenches with double bankets or feet benches. 1782 P. H. Bruce Mem. i. 28 Six officers..sitting in a row on the banquet, had their legs all shot off. 1877 Kinglake Crimea IV. xiii. 311 Korniloff mounted the banquette at the projecting angle of the bastion. |
2. The footway of a bridge, or other thoroughfare, when raised above the carriage-way.
| 1772 C. Hutton Bridges v. 83 The banquet or raised foot way on each side, leaving a sufficient breadth in the middle for horses and carriages. 1842 in Gwilt. 1848 Bartlett Dict. Amer., Banquette, the name for a side-walk in some of our Southern cities. |
3. The long low bench behind the driver in a French ‘diligence’ or omnibus.
| 1859 All Y. Round No. 33. 151 A peasant in blue blouse, who was in the banquette with me. |
4. An upholstered bench-like seat.
| 1851 [see sala1]. 1933 Archit. Rev. LXXIV. 242 (caption) A view across the counter from the serving side shows the wide recess round which runs a long low banquette covered in a brilliant red tartan. 1953 Ibid. CXIII. 168/1 (caption) Banquette seating in the staff cafeteria. 1958 E. Dundy Dud Avocado i. vi. 92 Along the walls [of the café] ran a banquette upholstered in very old red plush. |