† undercraftn.
Obsolete.
1. Hidden or secret craft or cunning.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [noun]
listOE
wiþercraftc1175
wilta1230
craftc1275
sleightc1275
engine?a1300
quaintisec1300
vaidiec1325
wilec1374
cautelc1375
sophistryc1385
quaintnessc1390
voisdie1390
havilon?a1400
foxeryc1400
subtletyc1400
undercraftc1400
practic?a1439
callidityc1450
policec1450
wilinessc1450
craftiness1484
gin1543
cautility1554
cunning1582
cautelousness1584
panurgy1586
policy1587
foxshipa1616
cunningnessa1625
subdolousness1635
dexterity1656
insidiousnessa1677
versuteness1685
pawkiness1687
sleight-hand1792
pawkery1820
vulpinism1851
downiness1865
foxiness1875
slimness1899
slypussness1908
c1400 Pilgr. Sowle (1859) i. xxii. 27 If thou be vnwise how that thy sowle asayled is with synne and vndercraft.
2. A sly, underhand trick.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [noun] > a wile or cunning device
wrenchc888
craftOE
turnc1225
ginc1275
play?a1300
enginec1300
wrenkc1325
forsetc1330
sleightc1340
knackc1369
cautel138.
subtletya1393
wilea1400
tramc1400
wrinkle1402
artc1405
policy?1406
subtilityc1410
subtiltyc1440
jeopardy1487
jouk1513
pawka1522
frask1524
false point?1528
conveyance1534
compass1540
fineness1546
far-fetch?a1562
stratagem1561
finesse1562
entrapping1564
convoyance1578
lift1592
imagine1594
agitation1600
subtleship1614
artifice1620
navation1628
wimple1638
rig1640
lapwing stratagem1676
feint1679
undercraft1691
fly-flap1726
management1736
fakement1811
old tricka1822
fake1829
trickeration1940
swiftie1945
shrewdie1961
1691 J. Norris Pract. Disc. Divine Subj. 11 Are not..the little Under-crafts of the Plebeian all put into Motion by this Spring?
1765 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VII. xix. 63 'Tis an undercraft of authors to keep up a good understanding amongst words, as politicians do amongst men.
3. attributive. Belonging to inferior crafts.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > [adjective] > belonging to inferior crafts
undercraft1723
1723 Duke of Wharton True Briton No. 59. ¶13 The Under-Craft Traders, such as Tide-waiters, Tidesmen, and Supernumeraries.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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n.c1400