watchwork
(ˈwɒtʃwɜːk)
[watch n.]
That part of the movement of a timepiece which is concerned with the measuring of the hours, as distinguished from the ‘clockwork’ or striking part; also, the ‘works’ or parts composing the movement of a watch.
| 1667 Sprat Hist. R. Soc. 247 Three new wayes of Pendulums for Clocks, and several wayes of applying the motion of the Watch-work to them. 1674 Hooke Animadv. Hevelius 68 To effect which motion of the Table and Instrument, a Watch-work is fitted to the Axis, so as to make it move round in the same time, with a diurnal revolution of the Earth. 1675 J. S. Horol. Dial. i. vii. 28 Tis always commendable to see Clock or Watch-work, move thus brisk and lively. 1773 Pennsylv. Gaz. 16 June, Suppl. 2/2 [Advt.] Silver watches..cast watch-work, [etc.]. 1825 J. Nicholson Oper. Mech. 489 Clock-work, properly so called..in contradistinction to that part of the movement of a clock or watch..which is termed watch-work. 1848 Proc. Soc. Antiquaries Lond. 271 Facio, a native of Geneva,..is said to have first invented the application of jewels to watchwork. |
b. transf. and fig.
| 1825 T. Hook Sayings Ser. ii. Man of Many Fr. I. 181 A shew-woman—like Madam Catharina, with watchwork under her hoop! 1844 Blackw. Mag. LVI. 530 The whole machinery and watchwork of pauperism. 1845 Clough Poems, New Sinai v, Heaven's A Mécanique Céleste! And heart and mind of human kind A watch-work as the rest! |