Which term describes a traditional wooden bench with arms and a high back used in early American households?

• A. Armchair
• B. Settee
• C. Settle
• D. Bench

Answer: (C)

Identifying traditional seating by its construction helps here: a long wooden bench built to seat several people, with a tall back and arms, designed to create a warm, sheltered seating area in a hall or living space. This combination—length, solid wood, integrated high back, and arms—is the defining feature of a settle, a common piece in early American households. Armchairs are individual seats with cushions and backs, not a long bench; a settee is upholstered and more refined, usually with padding rather than bare wood; a bench can be plain and backless or lacking arms. The sturdy wooden form with a high back and arms specifically points to a settle.