openworkn.adj.

1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. f^v Some [ruffs] are wrought with open woork down to the midst of the ruffe.

1598 P. Henslowe Diary 8 Nov. (1961) 84 xiiil ownces of cope lace wraght wth opene worcke.

1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Zeganélla, such small fine net worke or open worke as gentlewomen use to make and weare vpon their heads in caules.

1657 J. Harington Hist. Polindor & Flostella (ed. 3) ii. 66 Next after her March'd single Nymph, did hold Small Baskets, open-work, of white and green; Like-ribbon'd, trim'd.

1686 London Gaz. No. 2173/4 A Silver Needle-Case with Open Work.

1774 T. Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry I. xxiii. 300 Cloisters..fronted with tabernacular or open work.

1782 T. Pennant Journey Chester to London 264 The fronts are of most elegant gothic open work.

1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci Pref. p. xiv With balcony over balcony of open work.

1859 J. H. Ingraham Pillar of Fire i. iv. 68 The chariot was gorgeously ornamented at the sides with ornaments of light open-work.

1894 Daily News 10 Sept. 6/5 On the bodice a saddle-shaped yoke repeated the openwork with its warm red lining.

1930 tr. T. de Dillmont Encycl. Needlework (rev. ed.) 580 This border is a specimen of the Norwegian openwork known under the name of ‘Hardanger’ embroidery.

1989 New Yorker 23 Jan. 114/3 Lapels cut out and embroidered with spider-web open-work.

1665 D. Dudley Mettallum Martis sig. D3^v Some of these small Coles in these open Works, the poor people did carry away, but paid nothing for them in former times, termed the Brain Carriages.

1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. iii. 129 The open works..where..the Workmen rid off the earth, and dig the coal under their feet..there being no need for these, of windless, roap, or carf, whence these sort of Coale-works are commonly call'd Foot-ridds, or Footrills.

1811 J. Farey Gen. View Agric. Derbyshire I. 359 The sinking was further continued, and the heaps on the sides of these open-works, or open-casts, increased.

1921 B. E. Lowe Internat. Protection Labor ii. i. 116 Open works of mining operations suspended at least four months in the year on account of climatic conditions.

2002 Western Daily Press (Nexis) 4 Sept. 19 The team is..excavating at the iron-mining trench, or openwork, known as ‘Roman Lode’, at Burcombe, near Simonsbath.

1763 Pennsylvania Gaz. 25 Aug. 4/2 The Shop of Philip Miller, of this City, Watch-maker, was robbed of the following Articles, viz. 8 Pair of solid Silver shoe Buckles,..6 Pair of open Work Ditto.

1788 W. Marshall Provincialisms E. Yorks. in Rural Econ. Yorks. II. 362 Voider, a kind of open-work basket.

1815 T. Rickman in J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art I. 160 The whole interior is one series of open-work pannels laid on the Norman work.

1860 J. Abbott Amer. Hist. I. vi. 165 The boat itself was in reality an open-work basket, sheathed on the outside with sheets of birch bark.

1890 Daily News 24 Mar. 6/1 Open-work stockings will be the only wear when the weather gets a little warmer.

1929 Daily Express 26 Jan. 5/2 Rough straws and picture hats are always popular... These are being shown of openwork tuscan or punta straw.

1978 Detroit Free Press 16 Apr. (Detroit Suppl.) 30/1 (advt.) Beautiful open-work medallion designed in 14 Karat Gold.

1987 S. Barr & J. Poppy Flame xi. 79 An openwork tunnel of steel girders ahead, capped by half a dozen peaked trusses, turned out to be the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge.

2002 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 12 July e ii. 40/1 A delicate wall sculpture by Axel Lieber in the form of an openwork cube suggests the high-minded austerities of Minimalism.