bencher
(ˈbɛnʃə(r))
[f. bench n. + -er1.]
1. One who sits on a bench (or thwart); one who frequents the benches of a tavern.
| 1534 Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) D d viij, If the pyllers bee of syluer, and benches of golde, and though the benchers be kynges. 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. iv. i, O, the benchers phrase: pauca verba. 1858 Hawthorne Fr. & It. Jrnls. II. 286 The benchers joke with the women passing by. 1860 Hughes Tom Brown Oxf. xiii, Old companions, θρανίται, benchers (of the gallant eight-oar). |
2. One who officially sits on a bench; a magistrate, judge, assessor, senator, member of the Sanhedrim, alderman, etc. arch.
| 1571 Damon & P. in Hazl. Dodsl. IV. 17 Of parasites and sycophants you are a grave bencher. 1607 Shakes. Cor. ii. i. 91 A necessary Bencher in the Capitoll. 1612 Bp. Hall Contempl. N.T. iv. xxx, The grave benchers of Ierusalem..Rabbies of Israel. a 1693 Ashmole Antiq. Berks (1723) III. 58 Ten of them Aldermen or chief Benchers. |
3. spec. One of the senior members of the Inns of Court, who form for each Inn a self-elective body, managing its affairs, and possessing the privilege of ‘calling to the bar.’
| 1582 Act 5 Eliz. i. §5 As well Utter-Barresters as Benchers. 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. II. 311 He was made successively Barrester, utter Barrester, Bencher and Reader. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 21 ¶4 Benchers of the several Inns of Court, who seem to be Dignitaries of the Law. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 774 The benchers of the Inner Temple could bear the scandal..no longer. |