ˈcage-work
[f. cage n. + work n.]
1. Open work like the bars of a cage; also fig.
| 1625 Gill Sacr. Philos. ii. 173 If this foundation of the mixture of the two natures in Christ bee taken away, all the Cage-worke of the Theodosians, that the Mediatour is mortall, and of the Armenians, that hee could not suffer, must needes bee rotten and unable to stand. 1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters II. 135 Malmeudy..consists of about a thousand houses, mostly of cage-work. |
† 2. Naut. (see quots.) Obs.
| a 1618 Raleigh Roy. Navy 15 But men of better sort..would be glad to find more steadinesse and lesse tottering Cadge worke. 1708 Kersey, Cage-work, the uppermost carved Works of a Ship's Hull. 1721–1800 in Bailey. 1855 Kingsley Westw. Ho xx. (D.) The English fashion was to heighten the ship..also by stockades (‘close-fights and cage-work’) on the poop and fore-castle, thus giving to the men a shelter. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Cage-wrock, an old term for a ship's upper works. |