Plural of archbanc; multiple chief or principal benches.
The plural form of archbanc, adding the standard English -s pluralization to the Old French-derived archbanc. It would have been used when referring to multiple supreme seating arrangements in large cathedrals or assemblies.
The fact that medieval writers needed a plural form suggests some really grand churches had multiple archbancs—imagine having so much prestige you couldn't fit everyone important on just one 'chief bench'!
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