Middle English Dictionary Entry
benk n.
Entry Info
| Forms | benk n. Also ben(g)ke, bink. |
| Etymology | ON, cp. OI bekkr; Dan. Swed. bänk. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A bench, a seat; esp., a long, backless seat; (b) a royal seat, the throne of a ruler; setten on ~, to put (sb.) on a throne, do honor to (sb.); (c) ~ ende, the end of the bench.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)15231 : Tatt bridaless hus wass all Wiþþ þrinne bennkess bennkedd.
- ?c1350 Ballad Sc.Wars (Jul A.5)69 : Þe bankers on þe binkes lay.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5058 : Þan on bink [Göt: binck; Frf: benke] he sitt him bi.
- (1422) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8516 : The glasse wyndows, the bynkes, the flore.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)21376 : Coupes þai bar with diuerse drinkes, Ministrede to þam satte on þe binkes.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)569 : He dede hem sitte opon the benk, And bad his men bryng a drynk.
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)810 : Clement felle to þe bynke.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5271 : Þe bild was all of brent gold..Bathe þe benkis & þe bordis bett of þe noble.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)12b : A Benke or A stole, ubi stuyll: bancus regis dicitur, scamnum.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)4036 : To supper þey went after that, Her leff be her on the benke sat.
b
- c1425 How GWife(1) (Hnt HM 128)163 : Doughter, I þe praye þat þou þe so bethengke, What men þe honouren and sette þe on þe bengke, Of aventurys þat may betyde.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)227/188 : I schall buske to þe benke, Wher baneres are bright, And saie vnto oure souereynes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4236 : I, ser Dindimus, a duke..Blith berne on my benke..þis maundment I write.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)382/484 : When ye were set as syres on bynke, I stode þer oute, wery and Wate.
c
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)361 : Þan nou erst he drew his hatt Into þe benke-ende.
2.
The bench on which judges sit; the judges collectively; a court of law; crien ~, to summon a court; lesen ~, to lose (one's) position as judge.
Associated quotations
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.246 : Þe first justise in benk, Sir Thomas of Weland, For falshed & for wrenk he forsuore þe land..He departed with gram, & þe benk les.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.281 : Forto norise pes, his benk he [the king] did þer crie.
- a1450 Body & S.(5) (Dgb 102)p.95 : If alle þe men now vnder mone To deme vs were brouȝt on benke.
3.
(a) An instrument of torture; (b) ~ of fet, a footstool.
Associated quotations
a
- c1440 St.Chris.(Thrn)800,804 : Ane Iryne bynke þay made with strenghe, Fyftene cubetes it was one lenghe..And one þat bynke þay band hym faste.
b
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Heb.1.13 : Sytte þou on my righthalfe, to þat I putte myne enemys þe benk [L scabellum] of þi feet.