Pew
late Middle English (originally denoting a raised, enclosed place in a church, provided for particular worshippers): from Old French puye ‘balcony’, from Latin podia, plural of podium ‘elevated place’.
wiktionary
From Middle English pewe, borrowed from Middle French puie(“balustrade”), from Latin podia, plural of podium(“parapet, podium”), from Ancient Greek πόδιον(pódion, “little foot”), from πούς(poús, “foot”). Doublet of podium.
Possibly from French putois(“skunk”) or puer(“to stink”) or a clipping of putrid.
Onomatopoeic.
etymonline
pew (n.)
late 14c., peue, "raised, bench-like seat for certain worshipers" (ladies, important men, etc.), frequently enclosed, from Old French puie, puy "balcony, elevated place or seat; elevation, hill, mound," from Latin podia, plural of podium "elevated place," also "front balcony in a Roman theater" (where distinguished persons sat; see podium). Meaning "fixed bench with a back, for a number of worshipers" is attested from 1630s. Related: Pewholder; pew-rent.
