handiwork

Work done by the hands.

Noun

  1. Work done by the hands.
  2. A handmade object; a handicraft.
    • The Museum of Popular Arts showcases Portugal's finest handiworks.
  3. Work done personally.
    • The street names are the handiwork of city planners.
    • The firmament showeth his handiwork. - 1901, Bible (American Standard) - Psalms 19:1
  4. The result of personal efforts.
    • Brunel's associations with the area have left a few examples of his handiwork or teaching in South Wales. - 1939 September, D. S. Barrie, “The Railways of South Wales”, in Railway Magazine, page 163:
    • As a primary architect of the draft Constitution that emerged from Philadelphia in 1787, Madison substantially bore the burden of defending his handiwork in his home state. - 2004 Fall, Laurence Claus, “The...

Origin

From Middle English hondywerk, handiwerc, from Old English handġeweorc (“work done by hand, creation”), from hand (“hand”) + ġeweorc (“work”). Equivalent to hand + work, though it may now be reinterpreted as handy (“skilful”) + work. Compare Saterland Frisian Hondwierk, Dutch handwerk, German Handwerk.

Forms

handiworks handywork

Synonyms

handwork