Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BENCH'ER, n.

1. In England, the benchers in the inns of court, are the senior members of the society who have the government of it. They have been readers, and being admitted to plead within the bar, are called inner barristers. They annually elect a treasurer. – Encyc. Johnson.
2. The alderman of a corporation. – Ashmole.
3. A judge. – Shak.