banquette

American  

[bang-ket, bang-kit] / bæŋˈkɛt, ˈbæŋ kɪt /

noun

1. a long bench with an upholstered seat, especially one along a wall, as in a restaurant.

2. an embankment for buttressing the base of a levee and forming a berm.

3. Chiefly Coastal Louisiana and East Texas. a sidewalk, especially a raised one of bricks or planks.

4. Fortification. a platform or step along the inside of a parapet, for soldiers to stand on when firing.

5. a ledge running across the back of a buffet.

6. a bench for passengers on top of a stagecoach.

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banquette British  

/ bæŋˈkɛt /

noun

1. an upholstered bench

2. (formerly) a raised part behind a parapet

3. a footbridge

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Etymology

Origin of banquette

1620–30; < French < Provençal banqueta, equivalent to banc bench ( see bank ³) + -eta -ette

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

banquette

In a corner banquette seat at Long Xing Ji Juicy Dumpling in San Gabriel, Greg Nelson and Naama Haviv are reminiscing about the Christmas celebrations of their youth.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 21, 2023

The crisp white tablecloth in front of me shined bright white, and the banquette seating offered the same minimalist design as some of the region’s trendiest spots.

From New York Times ● Apr. 6, 2023

The seat of the banquette opens up, and the kitchen table legs contain shelves.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 27, 2023

In another space-saving move that provides flexibility, the banquette can be used for dining or as a sofa, and lifts up to provide storage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 2022

It was a thousand times more fun to haul real chips for old lame Susie’s real fire than to drag painted blocks along the banquette on Esplanade Street!

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin