pewage

A family pays the pewage to the church attendant.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Payment for a church pew: "pewage" refers to the fee or rent paid for the exclusive use of a pew (a long bench seat) in a church, typically allocated to a family or individual.

Usage Examples

• (The church received payment for reserved seating.)
• (Renting out pews generated revenue for religious institutions.)

Advanced Usage

• "to levy pewage": to impose a fee for the use of a pew.
  • The church council decided to levy pewage on all new members. (They introduced a charge for seating.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pew-rent (n): a synonym for pewage; the rent paid for a pew.
  • The pew-rent was due annually before Easter. (The fee for the pew was paid once a year.)
• Pewholder (n): a person who rents or owns a pew.
  • Each pewholder had their name inscribed on a brass plate. (The renter's name was displayed on the pew.)

Synonyms

• Seat rental: a charge for reserving a seat in a church.
• Bench fee: a historical term for the cost of using a church bench.

Related Idioms

• "To have a pew": to have a reserved seat in a church, often implying social status.
  • The mayor's family had a pew near the altar, a sign of their importance. (They owned a reserved pew due to their social standing.)