Land rising by ascents which are interrupted by flats or “benches.”
1846. The mountains on both sides rise in benches one above another, to an elevation of several thousand feet above the level of the valley.—Edwin Bryant, ‘What I saw in California,’ p. 155 (N.Y.).
1862. R. Mayne, ‘British Columbia.’ (N.E.D.)
1862. We can gather from this bench-land—from this gravelly soil—thirty bushels of wheat to the acre.—Brigham Young, Jan. 26: ‘Journal of Discourses,’ ix. 169.
1878. A small spur puts out westwardly from the Wasatch, and breaks down in successive “benches” to the upper part of the [Salt Lake] city.—J. H. Beadle, ‘Western Wilds,’ p. 90.
