A person who shares a bench or works alongside another at the same bench, particularly in crafts or trades.
A compound word from 'bench' and 'fellow,' where 'fellow' comes from Old Norse 'félagi' (partner or companion). Historically used to describe guild members or craftspeople sharing workspace.
Before factories, 'benchfellow' was a real job title—it reminds us that apprenticeship meant literally sitting at the same bench as your teacher, learning by watching and doing!
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