bencher

[ ben-cher ]

noun

1. (in England)
   1. a senior member of an Inn of Court.
   2. a member of the House of Commons.
2. a person who handles an oar; rower.

bencher

/ ˈbɛntʃə /

noun

1. a member of the governing body of one of the Inns of Court, usually a judge or a Queen's Counsel
2. See backbencher

Word History and Origins

Origin of bencher¹

First recorded in 1525–35; bench + -er ¹

Example Sentences

So now he looks less like a serious budget person than a drunken back-bencher who has to be elbowed awake to cast a vote.

From The Daily Beast

He joined the government on the explicit condition that a Kadima back-bencher, Yochanan Plessner, write the law.

From The Daily Beast

He is a great back bencher, and he can sure as hell throw grenades and make things blow up.

From The Daily Beast

Rivera will already be a back-bencher, so he doesn't have prestigious titles to lose.

From The Daily Beast

Now, there never yet was a Bencher of the name of Twopenny; though the mistake is easily accounted for.

From Project Gutenberg

If I were a bencher I would like to promote a pageant of these grand old litigants in honour of their service to the English law.

From Project Gutenberg

No person is admitted without the approbation of a bencher, or of the benchers in council assembled.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Knill resided for some years previous to his death in Gray's Inn, and was a bencher of that society.

From Project Gutenberg

The prince of Wales (George V.), a bencher of the society, filled the office of treasurer in 1904.

From Project Gutenberg