ˈplain-work, plain work
1. Work of a plain or simple kind, as distinguished from ornamental or ‘fancy’ work: spec. plain needlework or sewing, as distinct from fancy work or embroidery.
| 1715 Pope 2nd Ep. to Miss Blount 11 She went, to plainwork, and to purling brooks. 1741–70 Lett. Eliz. Carter, etc. (1808) 19, I shall..quietly proceed in the regular track and unambitious exercise of harmless plain-work. 1840 Thackeray Paris Sk.-bk., Beatrice Merger, She does beef⁓steaks and plain work. 1885 Manual Plain Needlework 145 Implements required for plain work. |
2. Masonry. See quot. 1832.
| [c 1430 Freemasonry 539 The tower of Babyloyne was begonne, Also playne werke of lyme and ston.] 1823 P. Nicholson Pract. Build. 315 Plain-work consists merely in the cleaning up of its surface. 1832 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7) V. 677/1 Plain work is the even surface produced on stone by the chisel, without the necessity of taking away more than the mere inequalities... Sunk work arises from the necessity of chiseling or hacking away below the level surface of the plain work. |