free bench. Hist. A widow’s (and occasionally a widower’s) interest in the deceased spouse’s estate. • Free bench gave the surviving spouse a half interest in the estate until death or remarriage. — Also termed francus bancus; frank bank; liber bancus. “The bench in question was, we may guess … a bench at the fireside. […]
Hist. A widow’s (and occasionally a widower’s) interest in the deceased spouse’s estate. • Free bench gave the surviving spouse a half interest in the estate until death or remarriage. — Also termed francus bancus; frank bank; liber bancus.
banc (bangk or bongk). [French] A bench; esp., the bench on which one or more judges sit. — Also spelled bank. — Also termed bancus. See EN BANC.