Pew

5 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Pew \Pew\, v. t.
     To furnish with pews. [R.] --Ash.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Pew \Pew\ (p[=u]), n. [OE. pewe, OF. puie parapet, balustrade,
     balcony, fr. L. podium an elevated place, a jutty, balcony, a
     parapet or balcony in the circus, where the emperor and other
     distinguished persons sat, Gr. po`dion, dim. of poy`s,
     podo`s, foot; -- hence the Latin sense of a raised place
     (orig. as a rest or support for the foot). See {Foot}, and
     cf. {Podium}, {Poy}.]
     1. One of the compartments in a church which are separated by
        low partitions, and have long seats upon which several
        persons may sit; -- sometimes called {slip}. Pews were
        originally made square, but are now usually long and
        narrow.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Any structure shaped like a church pew, as a stall,
        formerly used by money lenders, etc.; a box in theater; a
        pen; a sheepfold. [Obs.] --Pepys. --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Pew opener}, an usher in a church. [Eng.] --Dickens.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  pew
       n : long bench with backs; used in church by the congregation
           [syn: {church bench}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  21 Moby Thesaurus words for "pew":
     amen corner, anxious bench, anxious seat, booth, box, cavity, cell,
     cellule, chamber, compartment, crib, crypt, enclosed space, hold,
     hole, hollow, manger, penitent form, sedilia, stall, vault
  
  

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  PEW. A seat in a church separated from all others, with a convenient space 
  to stand therein. 
       2. It is an incorporeal interest in the real property. And, although a 
  man has the exclusive right to it, yet, it seems, he cannot maintain 
  trespass against a person entering it; 1 T. R. 430; but case is the proper 
  remedy. 3 B. & Ald. 361; 8 B. & C. 294; S. C. 15 Eng. C. L. R. 221. 
       3. The right to pews is limited and usufructuary, and does not 
  interfere with the right of the parish or congregation to pull down and 
  rebuild the church. 4 Ohio R 541; 5 Cowen's R. 496; 17 Mass. R. 435; 1 Pick. 
  R. 102; 3 Pick. R. 344; 6 S. & R. 508; 9 Wheat. R. 445; 9 Cranch, R. 52; 6 
  John. R. 41; 4 Johns. Ch. R. 596; 6 T. R. 396. Vide Pow. Mortgages, Index, 
  h.t.; 2 Bl. Com. 429; 1 Chit. Pr. 208, 210; 1 Pow. Mort. 17 n. 
       4. In Connecticut and Maine, and in Massachusetts, (except in Boston), 
  pews are considered real estate: in Boston they are personal chattels. In 
  New Hampshire they are personal property. 1 Smith's St. 145. The precise 
  nature of such property does not appear to be well settled in New York. 15 
  Wend. R. 218; 16 Wend. R. 28; 5 Cowen's R. 494. See Rev. St. Mass. 413; 
  Conn. L. 432; 10 Mass. R. 323 17 Mass. 438; 7 Pick. R. 138; 4 N. H. Rep. 
  180; 4 Ohio R. 515; 4 Harr. & McHen. 279; Harr. Dig. Ecclesiastical Law. 
  Vide Perturbation of seat; Best on Pres. 111; Crabb on R. P. Sec. 481 to 
  497.