Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Work performed by hand.
  • noun The product of a person's efforts and actions.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Work done by the hands, and hence by effort of any kind; doing; performance: as, a specimen of one's handiwork; the devil's handiwork.
  • noun That which is done or made by the hands, or by any active exertion; a fabrication; a creation.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Work done by the hands; hence, any work done personally.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Work done by the hands.
  • noun Work done personally.
  • noun The result of personal efforts.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a work produced by hand labor

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English handiwerk, from Old English handgeweorc : hand, hand + geweorc, work (ge-, collective pref.; see kom in Indo-European roots + weorc, work; see work).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English handiwerc, from Old English handġeweorc ("work done by hand, creation"), from hand ("hand") + ġeweorc ("work"). More at hand, work.

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Examples

  • This memo is identified as the handiwork of the “J-5 Response Cell.”

    Between War and Peace Col. Matthew Moten 2011

  • Today his handiwork is clearly visible to all of those who will take the time to look.

    Look what's happening in Venezuela! 2010

  • This memo is identified as the handiwork of the “J-5 Response Cell.”

    Between War and Peace Col. Matthew Moten 2011

  • Now that handiwork is looking pretty shoddy as cancer cells are ravishing your body.

    A Review of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed 2008

  • Well, if this brief, Mannheim-Steamroller-worthy MP3 sample of Thaler's handiwork is really the music of an immortal future, I have to admit, a mortal opt-out is looking better and better. posted by Matthew @ 9: 20 AM

    Archive 2007-04-01 Matthew Guerrieri 2007

  • Well, if this brief, Mannheim-Steamroller-worthy MP3 sample of Thaler's handiwork is really the music of an immortal future, I have to admit, a mortal opt-out is looking better and better. posted by Matthew @ 9: 20 AM

    The merry-go-round, broke down Matthew Guerrieri 2007

  • "Everyone knows," Spurs owner Peter M. Holt said of his team's handiwork from a championship locker room, "this is damn near impossible."

    Dynasty or not, Spurs' feat deserves respect and recognition 2007

  • Not by humans, but by Prowlers, a group of ancient creatures whose handiwork is typically thought to be that of wolves.

    slayground: Booklist: Monster Mash Little Willow 2006

  • Home improvement stores in the U.S. have prospered in a country with a vast middle class where the incremental cost of paying someone else to do one's handiwork is prohibitive.

    Home Depot 2004

  • The design and handiwork is worth the money, though how much - it’s really always difficult to say when it comes to art and design.

    BIC BALLPOINT PEN CHANDELIER | Inhabitat 2007

Comments

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  • Manoeuvre?

    August 4, 2009

  • no. this is a specific, well-known procedure.

    August 5, 2009