noun
handwork
HAND-wurk/ˈhændˌwɜrk/
Work done by hand rather than by machine.
Sewing this seam with a needle and thread requires careful handwork.
Etymology
Hand and work identify labor by the means used to perform it. The compound already meant work done by hand in Old English, preserving the literal meaning behind today's contrast with machine work.
In context
the difficult handwork is accomplished in largely the same fashion as in 1915 a human touch is required on every square inch of the locks
More examples
- The quilt combines machine stitching with delicate handwork.
- Each carved chair takes hours of handwork.
- Machines now handle tasks that once required handwork.
Forms
handwork
Similar words
- handicraft
- Emphasizes skilled craft activities or objects made by hand.
- manual labor
- Emphasizes physical effort rather than detailed work with the hands.