bench show


noun

a dog show in which the animals of each breed are judged and awarded prizes on the basis of standards established for that breed.

Origin of bench show

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example sentences from the Web for bench show

  • At New Haven I bought a paper, and found it filled with glaring display-lines about a "bench-show" there.

    Following the Equator, Complete |Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
  • Well, I read on a little, and learned that a bench-show was not a bench-show—but dogs, not benches at all—only dogs.

    Mark Twain's Speeches |Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)