ˈfretwork
[f. fret n.1 + work n.]
1. Arch. Carved work in decorative patterns consisting largely of intersecting lines, esp. as used in the decoration of ceilings.
| 1601 Holland Pliny xxxvi. xxiv. II. 595 Plastre serveth passing well to white wals or seeling; also for to make little images in fretworke, to set forth houses. c 1710 C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 144 Y⊇ Church is new and very handsome, good frettworke on y⊇ top. 1768 Gray in Corr. w. N. Nicholls (1843) 81 The wooden fretwork of the north isle you may copy, when you build the best room of your new Gothic parsonage. 1823 Byron Juan xii. lxii, The gale sweeps through its fretwork. 1852 C. M. Yonge Cameos (1877) II. xiv. 149 A tomb rich in fretwork and imagery. |
| transf. and fig. 1693 W. Freke Sel. Ess. Apol. 6 If..the..sincerity of my Work has been full and just..I may well leave the Fretwork..to an after part. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 414 ¶2 The curious Fret-work of Rocks and Grottos. 1820 Lamb Elia Ser. i. South Sea Ho., Moths..making fine fret-work among their single and double entries. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 353 Some party of pleasure banqueting on the turf in the fretwork of shade and sunshine. |
| attrib. 1634 Wither Emblemes 222 Hee that in his hall or parlour dines Which fret-worke roofes, or costly cedar lines. 1799 R. Warner Walks (1800) 43 The magnificent cathedral of Wells, with its fret-work towers. 1807 Wordsw. White Doe vii. 343 And floors encumbered with the show Of fret-work imagery laid low. 1841 T. J. Ouseley Eng. Melodies 146 To gaze upon the leafy fret-work screens. 1878 M Vittie Ch.-Ch. Cathedral 75 A fret-work string course under the triforium arcade. |
2. Wood-work cut with a fret-saw into ornamental designs.
| 1881 Young Every man his own Mechanic §39 Better adapted for back-grounds than for sawing as fret-work. Ibid. §633 Fret-work consists chiefly in cutting out an open and elaborate design in thin wood. |
3. Her.| 1864 Boutell Her. Hist. & Pop. vii. 32 This Frette-Work is supposed to be in relief upon the field. |
4. (See
quot.)
| 1859 Gwilt Encycl. Arch. ii. iii. (ed. 4) 586 Fretwork is the ornamental part of lead-light work, and consists in working ground or stained glass into different patterns and devices. |
Hence
ˈfretworked ppl. a.| 1875 J. H. Bennet Winter Medit. iv. xix. 607 The sand⁓stone rocks..are..fretworked into every conceivable shape. |