▪ I. subˈcontract, n.
[sub- 9.]
A contract, or one of several contracts, for carrying out a previous contract or a part of it.
| 1817 Selwyn Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4) IV. 1037 If the defendant was not liable, the plaintiff might be obliged to sue all the parties who had subcontracts before he could obtain redress. 1885 Law Rep. 15 Q.B. Div. 87 The contract with the plaintiff was to enable him to fulfil a sub⁓contract with his customer. |
| attrib. 1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 25 Nov. 11 Making it a condition of all Government clothing contracts that they must not be worked out under the sweating or sub-contract system. |
▪ II. subconˈtract, v.
[sub- 9.]
† 1. pass. To be betrothed for the second time.
| 1605 Shakes. Lear v. iii. 86 'Tis she is sub-contracted to this Lord. |
2. intr. To make a subcontract.
| 1842 Burn Naval & Milit. Dict. (1863) s.v. Sous, Sous⁓traiter, to sub-contract. 1889 Lancet 9 Mar. 498 He..hands over what he cannot do himself to others with whom he subcontracts. |
3. trans. To make a subcontract for. Formerly, of the sub-contractor; now often with contractor or work as subj. Also with out.
| 1898 Westm. Gaz. 26 Aug. 7/2 As to the food arrangements, they were not worked from London, but sub-contracted by people in the locality. 1939 Daily Tel. 18 Dec. 12/8 Outworkers required to sub-contract large and regular orders of light clothing. 1955 Times 19 Aug. 10/1 Hall Telephone will..be able to employ its factories to greater advantage by undertaking the manufacture of the James Gordon products, which hitherto have been sub-contracted by that company. 1972 Daily Tel. 20 Mar. 18/3 Most of the engineering parts are sub-contracted out. 1981 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 4 July 51/2 He worked on a commission of 15% on surgery sales, the middleman (the general practitioner) had nothing to do with it, and the surgical operation was subcontracted out. |
Hence subconˈtracted ppl. a., subconˈtracting vbl. n.; sub-conˈtractor, one who enters into a subcontract.
| 1842 Civil Engin. & Arch. Jrnl. V. 85/2 The sub-contractor..had to..lay down the temporary road. 1900 Westm. Gaz. 22 Oct. 8/1 Direct employment and no sub-contracting. 1902 Daily Chron. 29 Apr. 3/4 The conditions under which the sub-contracted work is carried out. |