banquette
|ban-quette|
/bæŋˈkɛt/
small bench
Etymology
'banquette' originates from French, specifically the word 'banquette', a diminutive of 'banque' meaning 'bench' (from Germanic root 'bank' meaning 'bench, table').
'banquette' passed into English from French (Modern French 'banquette'), ultimately tracing back to Old High German/Germanic 'bank' (bench) via Old French/Medieval French forms; the French diminutive form gave the modern English word 'banquette'.
Initially it referred simply to a small bench or seat ('little bench'), but over time it developed specialized senses such as a built-in upholstered bench in dining contexts and a military firing step behind a parapet.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a long, often upholstered bench built against a wall, commonly found in restaurants or dining areas.
They booked a table by the window and sat on the banquette along the wall.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/12 19:38