hornwork
(ˈhɔːnwɜːk)
[f. horn n. + work.]
1. Fortif. A single-fronted outwork, the head of which consists of two demi-bastions connected by a curtain and joined to the main body of the work by two parallel wings. It is thrown out to occupy advantageous ground which it would have been inconvenient to include in the original enceinte.
| 1641 Evelyn Diary 6 Aug., I watched on a horne worke neere our quarters. 1759 Sterne Tr. Shandy II. xii, The horn-work..is formed by two epaulments of demi-bastions. 1813 Wellington in Gurw. Desp. XI. 61 note, A mine was exploded in the left angle of the counter-scarp of the horn⁓work, which did great damage. |
2. Work done in horn; articles made of horn.
| 1642 Milton Apol. Smect. xii, No helmet of salvation, but the meere mettle and horn-work of Papall jurisdiction. 1777 W. Dalrymple Trav. Sp. & Port. cxxxi, This town is famous for horn-work. 1887 Donaldson Suppl. to Jamieson s.v. Horner, A few of the simpler branches of horn⁓work are still followed by tinkers and gipsies. |
† 3. Cuckoldry. Obs.
| 1738 Common Sense I. 344. 1759 Sterne Tr. Shandy II. xii. 1813 Moore Poems, Re-inforcem. for Duke. |