banquette

 
Pronunciation: /baŋˈkɛt/

noun

  • 1an upholstered bench along a wall, especially in a restaurant or bar.
  • 2a raised step behind a rampart.

Origin:

early 17th century (in banquette (sense 2)): from French, from Italian banchetta, diminutive of banca 'bench' (see bank2). banquette (sense 1) dates from the mid 19th century