pew

pew
    n 1: long bench with backs; used in church by the congregation
         [syn: {pew}, {church bench}]
    

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

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      originally made square, but are now usually long and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]
    

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. 
    

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