busyworkn.
/ˈbɪzɪwəːk/, U.S. /ˈbɪziˌwərk/ Originally and chiefly U.S.
Work that keeps a person busy; repetitive or routine activity, now typically that which is intended to keep a person busy but has little value in itself. Cf. make-work n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > work > [noun] > other types of work
church worka1225
kirk work1418
fieldwork1441
labour of love1592
life's work1660
shop work1696
outwork1707
private practice1724
tide-work1739
sales-work1775
marshing1815
work in progress1815
life-work1837
relief work1844
sharp practice1847
near work1850
slop-work1861
repetition work1866
side work1875
rework1878
wage-slavery1886
work in progress1890
war work1891
busywork1893
screen work1912
staff-work1923
gig work1927
knowledge work1959
WIP1966
telework1970
playwork1986
laboratory work2002
the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > [noun] > business claiming attention > an occupation or affair > devised to keep someone busy
busywork1893
make-work1911
1893 Forum Feb. 754 By busy-work is meant the work performed by one section of the class while the teacher is imparting instruction to another.
1930 Grade Teacher Sept. 30/1 The old term ‘busy work’, now an expression in bad repute, was a quite honest label of what was too often seat work of this character.
1960 C. Geertz Modjokuto vi. 72 The detailed busy-work of the funeral, the politely formal social intercourse with the neighbors..are supposed to carry one through the grief process.
1996 C. Brookmyre Quite Ugly One Morning vi. 37 As a freelance..he was..stuck at a desk all day, landed with exactly the sort of busywork the staffers hated doing.
2006 A. Robbins Overachievers iv. 97 If it's busywork..I'm not going to waste my time doing it for real.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1893