| 释义 |
frost-work
1. Work produced by frost; esp. the delicate tracery formed on the surface of glass, etc. by frost.
1729Savage Wanderer iii. 65 In Frost-work now delight the sportive kind [Fairies]. 1827Gentl. Mag. XCVII. ii. 483, I peeped through the chamber window externally beautified by the glittering frost-work. 1862M'Cosh Supernat. ii. i. §4. 153 The frostworks on our flag-stones, and windows, so like the tree in their ramifications.
fig.1792S. Rogers Pleas. Mem. ii. 438 Lo, Fancy's fairy frost-work melts away. 1853C. Brontë Villette xix. 188 These few warm words..breathed on that frail frost⁓work of reserve.
attrib.1822Shelley Hellas 416 Ye who strike To dust the citadels of sanguine kings..And thaw their frostwork diadems like dew. 1832J. Bree St. Herbert's Isle 4 The frost-work palace of an April night.
2. Ornamentation in imitation of this.
1648E. Sparke in J. Shute's Sarah & Hagar (1649) Pref. b 1 a, Many others set but their slight Frost-works upon Sattin. 1664Power Exp. Philos. i. 7 Her body looks like Silver in Frost-work. 1872Ruskin Eagle's Nest §174 The feathers like frost-work of silver.
attrib.1703Moxon Mech. Exerc. 59 Like frost work Silver.
Hence ˈfrost-worked ppl. a., ornamented with frost-work, frosted.
1710Lond. Gaz. No. 4748/4 A small silver Milk Pot frost worked. |