Meaning

noun long bench with backs; used in church by the congregation

originFrom Middle English pewe, from Old French puiee, puïe (“balustrade, balcony”), from Latin podia, plural of podium (“parapet, podium”), from Ancient Greek πόδιον (pódion, “little foot”), from πούς (poús, “foot”). Doublet of podia.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0