underwork

Subordinate work; petty business.

Noun

From under- + work.

To require too little work from; to work insufficiently.
To work or operate in secret or clandestinely.
- [H]e raiſeth (in priuate) a nevv Inſtrument, one Sertorius Macro, and by him vndervvorketh, diſcouers the others Coũſells [i.e., counsels], his Means, his Ends, […] - 1605, Ben[jamin] Jonson, “The Argument”, in Seianus...
To do less work than necessary (on).
- to underwork a painting
To do work for inadequate payment.
To injure by working secretly; to destroy or overthrow by clandestine measure; to undermine.
- But thou from loving England art so far, That thou hast underwrought his lawful king. - c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, &...
To do similar work for a lesser price than; to undercut.
- One mason may underwork another.