OED Work Noun

Oxford English Dictionary | The definitive record of the English language

work, n.

Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian werk , wirk , Old Saxon werk (Middle Low German werk ... (Show More)

Action, labour, activity; an instance of this.

1.

a. An act, deed, or proceeding; something that is in the process of being, or has been, done or performed. Now arch. and rare.
b. In pl. Acts or deeds collectively. Chiefly with of or possessive adjective. Now arch. and rare. In later use coloured by sense 1c.
c. Theol. A good or moral act or deed considered in relation to justification before God (see justification n. 1). Usu. in pl. Freq. contrasted with faith or grace. Cf. good work n.Covenant of Works: see covenant n. 8a.
d. An act or deed expressive of a particular moral quality or purpose, as work of alms, work of charity, work of darkness, etc. Usu. in pl. Cf. work of mercy at mercy n. 1e.In Old English with genitive.

2.

a. Acts or deeds collectively; action; conduct. Freq. in collocation with word; cf. actions speak louder than words at action n. Phrases 4. Cf. sense 1b. Obs.
b. Action of a particular (freq. specified) kind; the production of a characteristic, predictable, or intended effect; functioning, operation. Now chiefly in to do its work. Cf. sense 11b.In quot. a1500: †doing, performance (obs.).
c. Cricket. Spin imparted to the ball by the bowler; esp. = break n.1 5. Cf. work v. 42g.

3. A thing to be done; what a person or thing has to do; a task to be carried out; a function to be served. Also (in later use chiefly) as a mass noun.In earlier use often only distinguishable from sense 1 by context and aspect, according to whether an action is viewed as complete or not complete. In later use tending to merge with senses 4a and 5a. 4.

a. Action or activity involving physical or mental effort and undertaken in order to achieve a result, esp. as a means of making one's living or earning money; labour; (one's) regular occupation or employment.Also with modifying word specifying the kind of work done. For more established compounds, as agency work, night work, piece-work, social work, etc., see the first element.
b. An individual act or instance of labour; a task, a job; spec. a particular type of task, such as a specific manufacturing process. Also more generally: a task requiring physical or mental effort. Now regional (Caribbean) or colloq.
c. Usu. with pl. concord: one's employer or place of employment.

5.

a. Action or activity of any kind, esp. when requiring physical or mental effort; (hence) effort, exertion. Freq. with modifying word.
b. Exercise undertaken to improve the fitness or condition of a horse, often in preparation for a race or competition. Freq. with modifying word indicating the type or intensity of exercise. Cf. to ride work at ride v. Phrases 2l.
c. Physical effort expended during participation in a sport or game; the application or skill displayed by a person, team, etc., during play. Cf. work rate n. (b) at Compounds 3.
d. The part of an activity, endeavour, etc., requiring the most effort; the main, central, or most important aspect or component.
6.
a. As a count noun: an instance of constructing, maintaining, or repairing a building, estate, etc., esp. (in early use) a church (cf. church work n. 1). Also occas. in pl. with same sense. Obs.
b. As a mass noun: repair, renovation, or improvement carried out on something already constructed, esp. (part of) a building.
c. Improvement judged necessary to reach a more complete or satisfactory state; refinement; finessing. Chiefly in to need (some) work.
d. colloq. Cosmetic surgery. Freq. in to have work done.

7. Math. The process of calculation; a setting out of the successive steps of a calculation; = working n. 6. 8. With reference to price: (the cost of) the labour involved in making or building something, as distinguished from the materials used. Cf. labour n. 10a. 9. slang. Illicit or criminal activity. Cf. job n.2 1b. 10. Science. The operation of a force in producing movement or other physical change, esp. as a measurable quantity; the result of a force operating through a distance; energy transferred from one system to another that causes changes in the macroscopic properties of the latter (such as volume, height, or speed).The ability of a system to do work depends on its energy (energy n. 6a), and the same units measure both quantities: the joule (in the SI), electronvolt, kilowatt-hour, erg, calorie, foot-pound, and British thermal unit.

The result or product of action, labour, etc.; the means or process by which this is achieved.

11. Chiefly with of or possessive adjective.

a. The product of the purposive labour or operation of a specified person or other agent; things made, considered collectively; creation, handiwork. Also more generally: the result of (one's) labour, something accomplished. Also (esp. in early use) in pl. with same sense.In quot. 1594   in extended use.
b. Without connotation of purpose or intention: the effect, consequence, or result of the action of a person or the operation of a thing, agent, etc.; (one's) doing.

12. A thing made; a manufactured article or object; a structure or apparatus of some kind, esp. one forming part of a larger thing. Also as a mass noun.Now chiefly with modifying word. For more established compounds, as brickwork, firework, framework, ironwork, waxwork, etc., see the first element. 13.

a. A large architectural or engineering structure, as a house, bridge, pier, etc.; a building, an edifice. Now Sc. and rare (hist. or arch.).
b. Chiefly Brit. In pl. Building or engineering operations.Clerk, Master of (the) Works: see the first element. public works: see public works n. (b) at public adj. and n. Special uses 2. roadworks: see roadwork n. 2b.

14. Mil. A fortified building or other defensive structure, a fortification. Also (freq. in pl.): any of the sides, walls, etc., of such a structure. Cf. bulwark n.Also as the second element in compounds, as earthwork, fieldwork, hornwork, outwork, etc.: see the first element. 15.

a. Workmanship, make, style of construction; esp. with reference to ornamental workmanship. In early use also in † of work: ornamental (obs.). Freq. with modifying word, esp. denoting place or period of origin, or a style associated with this.
b. concr. The product or result of workmanship; an ornamental pattern or figure; ornamentation, decoration. In later use only as a mass noun. Also with modifying word denoting the nature of the decoration.

16.

a. A literary or musical composition, esp. as considered in relation to its author or composer. Also (in sing. and pl.): (a person's) literary or musical compositions, considered collectively.

OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) Pref. ii. 4 Ðurh Albinus swiðost ic geðristlæhte þæt ic dorste þis weorc [L. hoc opus] ongynnan.

b. A product of any of the fine arts, as a painting, statue, etc., esp. as considered in relation to its creator. Also as a mass noun: artistic products collectively or in the abstract. Cf. work of art at Phrases 3b, artwork n.

17.

a. As a mass noun: textile fabric, or something made of this, esp. while being made or worked on; needlework, embroidery, etc. In early use also as a count noun.See also drawn-work n., fancy work n., lace-work n. at lace n. Compounds 1a(b)(i), needlework n. 1, openwork n., etc.
b. The action or process of making a textile fabric or (more commonly) making something out of such fabric, as in weaving or (more usually) sewing, knitting, or the like.Recorded earliest in web-work n. at web n. Compounds 4. 
Before the mid 20th cent. commonly regarded as the characteristic occupation of women, and hence approaching a spec. use of sense 4a.

18.

a. An object that is to be, or is being, operated or worked on, esp. (in later use) with a tool or machine. Cf. sense 15.best work: see the first element.
b. fig. In sporting contexts: the point or area at which action or effort is to be, or is being, applied. Now rare.

19.

a. An excavation in the earth made for the purpose of obtaining metals or minerals; a mine; = working n. 15.Recorded earliest in tin-work n. at tin n. Compounds 2, and now rare except as the second element in compounds, as coal work, iron work, etc.: see the first element. See also minework n., openwork n. 2.
b. Chiefly Brit. regional. A trench or artificial ditch dug for draining or irrigation. Now rare.Cf. waterwork n. 4.

20.

a. A set of (esp. moving) parts forming a machine or mechanism. In later use (in pl.): the internal working parts of a machine; esp. the mechanism of a clock or watch.Perh. originally a contextual use of sense 12.
 In early use esp. as the second element in compounds.
 Recorded earliest in wheelwork n.   See also clock-work n., motion work n. at motion n. Compounds, watchwork n.
b. colloq. (orig. U.S.). In pl. The internal organs of a person or animal; the innards. Cf. waterwork n. 1c, plumbing n. 3d. Now rare.
c. colloq. (orig. U.S.). In pl. Processes, stages, etc., likened to the working parts of a machine; the components of a system. Cf. to throw a spanner in the works at spanner n.1 2b.
d. slang (orig. U.S.). In pl. The equipment used for taking drugs, esp. intravenously.

21. Chiefly Brit. An establishment or premises in which industrial or manufacturing processes are carried out; esp. a factory. In later use only in pl. (often with sing. concord).Also as the second element in compounds: see gasworks n., glass-work n. 1, silk-work n. 3, waterwork n. 1b, etc.
Recorded earliest in ironwork n. 2a.

22. A froth produced by fermentation in the manufacture of vinegar. Cf. work v. 6b. Obs. rare. 1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 4 To..see if the fermentation [of the vinegar] has been complete..we plunge into the liquor a white stick or rod..: if it be covered with a white thick froth, to which is given the name of work (travail), we judge that the operation is terminated.

23. colloq. (orig. U.S.). In pl. With the. The whole lot; everything needed, desired, or expected. Also with intensifying adjective, as full, whole, etc. See also Phrases 2c(b), to shoot the works at shoot v. 23j.

Suffering, disturbance, commotion.

24. Originally: suffering, pain; distress, affliction (obs.). Later in weakened sense: disturbance, commotion, fuss; an instance of this. Cf. to make work at Phrases 2d(b), wark n.1 Now rare (regional in later use).

Phrases

P1. With a preposition.See also awork adv.

• a. at work.
  • (a) Occupied with labour; engaged in a task; working, esp. at one's regular job or occupation. Cf. hard at work at hard adj. and n. Phrases 6a.
  • (b) More generally: occupied in some action or process, esp. to a definite end; actively engaged; in operation.
  • (c) Of a mine: in the process of being worked (work v. 30b); in active operation.
• b. Phrases with in.
  • (a) in work.
    • †(i) Engaged in a task; in operation; = at work at Phrases 1a. Obs.
    • (ii) In regular employment. Also with qualifying adjective, as full-time, part-time, etc. Cf. out of work adv.
  • (b) to put (also set) in work: †(a) to make use of (obs.); (b) to put in operation; = to put (also set) to work at Phrases 1f(a) (now rare).
  • (c) orig. U.S. in the works: in preparation; under way. Cf. sense 21, in the pipeline at pipeline n. 2b.
• c. of all work (also †works): (as postmodifier) employed in or involving all kinds of (esp. domestic) work, as opposed to one particular role or responsibility. Also in extended use. Now somewhat arch.For more established
• d. to put (also †set) on work: = to put (also set) to work at Phrases 1f(a). Now rare.In quot. ?1440 in †to set to on work; cf. to set to 6a at set v.1 Phrasal verbs 2.
• e. out of work: see out of work adv., adj., and n.
• f. Phrases with to.
  • (a) to put (also set) to work.
    • (i) To set (a person, an animal, etc.) to a task, or to do something; to put (a thing) to use, or (less commonly) in action or operation. Also (refl.): to apply oneself to labour or an occupation or undertaking; to set about doing something. [Compare Middle French, French mettre en besogne (early 15th cent.; mid 15th cent. in reflexive use).]
    • (ii) In pass. Of a mine: to be put in operation. Cf. Phrases 1a(c).
  • (b) to get (also get down, go, go adown, set, set down) to work: to proceed to some action (expressed or implied); to begin doing something, esp. in a purposeful or energetic manner; to commence operations. See also to fall to work at fall v. Phrasal verbs 2. Cf. to get down to business at business n. Phrases 13.
  • (c) to work.
    • (i) As an imperative exhortation to begin or resume work or an activity.
    • (ii) U.S. colloq. In the process of working; at work. Cf. to prep. 4. Now rare.

P2. Phrases with verbs.

• a.
  • (a) to cut out work (for a person): to prepare work to be done by a person; to give a person something to do. In later use freq. in pass. Now rare.Perh. originally with metaphorical allusion to the preparation of fabric to be worked on; see sense 17a.
  • (b) colloq. to have one's work cut out (for one) and variants: to have enough to do; to have as much to do as one can manage, esp. in the time available; to be faced with a hard or lengthy task.
• b. slang (chiefly U.S.). to get the works: to receive harsh or abusive treatment; spec. to be killed; (in weakened sense) to be treated badly or unfavourably. Cf. to get the business at business n. Phrases 18. Now somewhat rare.
• c. slang (chiefly U.S.). to give (a person) the works. Cf. to give (a person) the business at business n. Phrases 17.
  • (a) To treat (a person) harshly, violently, or abusively; spec. to murder (someone). Now somewhat rare.
  • (b) To give (a person) the greatest possible amount of attention, information, etc. Cf. sense 23.
• d. Phrases with make.
  • (a) With qualifying adjective, as to make good (also quick, sure, etc.) work: to carry out an action or task, or deal with a person or thing, in the manner specified or implied by the adjective. Usu. with of, (now rarely) with. Now chiefly in to make quick work of. See also to make short work of at short adj. 5c, to make smooth work of at smooth adj. 3b.
  • (b) to make work.
    • (i) Also to make a work. To create havoc or confusion; (hence) to make a fuss or to-do, to cause disturbance or trouble. Cf. sense 24. Now rare (Sc. and Eng. regional in later use).In quot. 1574: †to trouble oneself to do something (obs.).
    • (ii) To cause (additional) labour to be required; (with negative implication) to necessitate (inconvenient or troublesome) labour or effort.Recorded earliest in to make work for at Phrases 2d(c).
  • (c) to make work for: to give (a person, etc.) something to do; (with negative connotation) to necessitate (inconvenient or troublesome) labour or effort from (a person, etc.).

P3.

• a. the work of the devil: a creation of the devil; something evil, which should be avoided or rejected; (in weakened use) something regarded as unpleasant, hateful, or unnatural.
• b. work of art: something produced or created by skill or craft. In later use spec.: a product of the creative arts, esp. one with strong aesthetic or imaginative appeal; a fine picture, sculpture, poem, musical composition, etc. Also in extended use.
• c. job of work: see job n.2 Phrases 1. line of work: see line n.2 28d. piece of work: see piece n. Phrases 4.

P4. Proverbial and idiomatic phrases.

• a. Phrases referring to the importance of working well, enthusiastically, readily, etc.
• b.
  • (a) the work of a minute (also a moment, a week, etc.) and variants: a process or task taking (the specified length of time). Cf. day's work n.In later use chiefly indicating a task will not take long or be too troublesome.
  • (b) a work of time: a process or task which takes a long time. Now rare.
• c. all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and variants: incessant work without rest or relaxation is detrimental to one's personal life and general well-being; working all the time can make one boring. Hence also (of a person, way of life, etc.) to be all work and no play.
• d. With modifying word, as good, great, etc., in imperative phrases expressing encouragement to continue working or performing well, esp. in keep up the good work; also in interjections commending a person's efforts, as good work!
• e. all in a day's work: see day's work n. 1b. many hands make light work: see hand n. Phrases 3d. nice work if you can get it: see nice adj. and adv. Phrases 4. a woman's work is never done: see woman n. Phrases 1d.

Compounds

C1. attrib.

• a.
  • (a) With the sense ‘of, relating to, or used in work’, as work address, work environment, work routine, work stress, etc.See also workday n. and adj., work life n., etc.
  • (b)

work crew  n.
work plan  n.
work time  n.
work tool  n.
work yard  n.

• b. With the sense ‘designating an animal used for draught, ploughing, farm work, etc.’. Cf. working adj. 2 and see also workhorse n.

work beast  n.
work mare  n. orig. Sc.
work nag  n.
work ox  n.
work steer  n. N. Amer. (now chiefly hist.)
work stock  n. U.S.

• c. With the sense ‘designating a person employed in manual, practical, or industrial labour’. Cf. working adj. 1, and see also workman n., workpeople n. workwoman n., etc.

work-girl  n. now rare
work-lass  n. now rare
workmaid  n. now chiefly hist.
work-servant  n. Obs.

• d.
  • (a) With the sense ‘designating clothing designed or suitable for wear at work, esp. in being either smart or (more often) practical and hard-wearing’, as work boot, work shirt, work shoe, etc.
  • (b)

work clothes  n.
work wear  n.

• e. With the sense ‘relating to or used for sewing, embroidery, etc.’ (see sense 17b), as work case, work pattern, work stand, etc.Recorded earliest in work basket n. at Compounds 3. See also work bag n., workbox n., work desk n. (a) at Compounds 3.

C2.

• a. Objective.
  • (a) With present participles and verbal nouns, as work-creating, work-loving, work-producing, work-seeking, etc.
  • (b) With agent nouns, as work doer, work provider, work seeker, etc.
• b. Instrumental.See also work-hardened adj.

work-driven adj.
work-gnarled adj.
work-hard adj.
work-soiled adj.
work-stained adj.
work-thickened adj.
work-wan adj. poet. Obs. rare
work-wearied adj.
work-weary adj.
work-worn adj.

C3.

work bag  n.  (a) a bag used for storing implements and materials for sewing, knitting, etc.;  (b) (more generally) a bag used for work, esp. for carrying items to and from one's workplace.
work basket  n. a basket used for storing implements and materials for sewing, knitting, etc.
workbench  n. a bench at which manual or practical work, esp. carpentry, is done.
work board  n. a board on which (esp. manual) work is done.
workboat  n.  †(a) a container used for storing implements and materials for sewing, knitting, etc. (obs. rare);  (b) a boat used for carrying out various kinds of work, such as fishing, transporting freight, etc.
workbox  n.  (a) a box for storing or holding materials for sewing, etc.;  (b) a box used when working, esp.a tool box.
work camp  n.  (a) = labour camp n. at labour n. Compounds 2;  (b) a camp, esp. one attended by young volunteers, which is organized to undertake community or charitable work for a fixed period.
work card  n.  (a) a card issued by an employer as proof that the cardholder is employed; (also in later use) a card certifying that the bearer has permission to work;  (b) a card on which is printed a list of exercises for students, such as questions to be answered or tasks to be carried out (cf. worksheet n. 2).
work chant  n. a chant performed while working, esp. by a group of people, typically having a strong, steady rhythm intended to accompany repetitive manual labour; cf. work song n.
work-covenant  n. Theol. Obs. rare = Covenant of Works at covenant n. 8a; cf. sense 1c.
work desk  n.  †(a) a desk used for sewing (obs. rare);  (b) (more generally) a desk used for work; a desk in the workplace.
work ethic  n. the attitude or principle that hard work is intrinsically virtuous, a belief in the value of hard work; (also more generally, chiefly with modifying adjective) a particular attitude towards work or the workplace.Usually connected with the view that to be successful through hard work is a person's moral duty, and deriving from Max Weber's thesis on the Protestant origins of modern capitalism (cf. Protestant work ethic n. at Protestant n. and adj. Compounds).
In quot. 1945   as a mass noun.
work experience  n. chiefly Brit. (the provision of) experience of employment and the workplace environment in the form of a supervised fixed-term placement, esp. for older secondary school pupils.
work fellow  n. = workmate n.
work field  n.  (a) a field or piece of ground on which agricultural labour is carried out (now rare);  (b) a sphere of work, an area of activity or responsibility.
work furlough  n. U.S. leave of absence, esp. from prison, in order to undertake normal employment; a rehabilitation programme based on this; cf. work release n.
work gang  n. a gang (esp. of slaves or prisoners) that carries out manual or physical labour; cf. work party n. (a).
workhand  n. orig. and chiefly U.S. a labourer, a worker; cf. hand n. 14a.
workhead  n.  (a) the part of a lathe or other machine tool which holds the object being worked on; = headstock n. 3b;  (b) (on a multi-purpose power tool) an interchangeable attachment with a particular purpose, such as cutting, drilling, etc.
work holder  n.  (a) a device in a sewing machine for holding the fabric (now hist.);  (b) Engin. the part of a machine tool that holds the object being worked on; the headstock of a lathe.
work-holy  n. depreciative Obs. rare (with the and pl. concord) people who believe or expect that their own actions, rather than God's grace, will bring about justification before God; cf. sense 1c, workmonger n.

1528 Tyndale Obed. Christen Man f. xlijv, The sophistres, werkeholy, & iustifiars..which so magnifie their dedes.

work hour  n. (in pl.) the part of the day (typically) spent at work; (later also) the amount of time spent at work; (in sing.) an hour during which work is done (cf. working hour n. at working n. Compounds 3); (also) the hour at which work begins.
work-jail  n. Obs. rare a prison or house of correction in which inmates are put to work; cf. workhouse n. 2a.
work lead  n.  †(a) a large vessel used for fermentation (cf. lead n.1 5a) (obs.);  (b) Metall. lead as it comes from the smelting furnace, containing impurities.  [In sense (b)   after German Werkblei (1562 as werck bley).]
workmate  n. a person with whom one works; a colleague.Somewhat rare in N. Amer. usage.
work measurement  n. orig. U.S. (as a count noun) an estimate, calculated using ergonomic techniques, of the time required for carrying out a particular task to a certain standard; (as a mass noun) the action or process of calculating such estimates, in order to improve efficiency in the workplace; cf. time and motion adj.
work-minded adj. focused on work; keen to work.
work-mindedness  n. the quality or state of being work-minded.
workmonger  n. depreciative (now rare) a person who believes or expects that his or her own actions, rather than God's grace, will bring about justification before God; cf. sense 1c, and earlier work-holy n.
work name  n. a name or alias used for work purposes; spec. an alias used by a person engaged in secret intelligence work.
work party  n.  (a) a group of people (typically soldiers, sailors, prisoners, etc.) assigned to a task, esp. one involving manual or physical labour (cf. working party n. 1a, 1b);  (b) a group of people working voluntarily on a task or project for mutual benefit, charitable purposes, etc.
work permit  n. orig. U.S. an official document granting permission to work, esp. one giving a foreign national permission to work legally in the country of issue.
work placement  n. the action or practice of finding a person employment or a placement for work (cf. placement n. 2); (now) spec. (chiefly Brit.) a period of attachment to a workplace, either paid or unpaid, in order to gain work experience.
work point  n. now hist. (in the People's Republic of China) a unit used in communes to calculate wages due, based on the quality and quantity of work done.  [After Chinese gōng fēn ( < gōng   work (see gung ho n.) + fēn (verb) to divide, distinguish, (noun) fraction, also used to denote various units of measurement).]
work rate  n.  (a) the rate at which work is done, the amount of work done in a period of time;  (b) the amount of effort expended by a person in a sport or game; spec. (in team sports, as football, hockey, etc.) the effort expended in running, chasing, tackling, etc., considered as a measure of a player's contribution to the team's effort.
work release  n. orig. U.S. leave of absence from prison in order to undertake normal employment; a rehabilitation programme based on this.In quot. 1952   with reference to the internment of Japanese-Americans during the Second World War.
workroom  n. a room for working in, esp. one equipped for a particular kind of work; cf. workshop n. 1a.
work rule  n. chiefly U.S. one of a set of regulations governing working procedures, conditions, etc., in a business or industry.
work sharing  n. Econ. a working arrangement in which employees in an overmanned industry work fewer hours, as an alternative to redundancies.
work song  n. a song sung while working, esp. by a group of people, typically having a strong, steady rhythm intended to accompany repetitive manual labour.Recorded earliest in figurative use.
work surface  n. a flat surface suitable for working on, esp. one in a kitchen; cf. working surface n. at working n. Compounds 3.
worktable  n.  (a) a small table used for sewing typically having compartments, drawers, etc. (now chiefly hist.);  (b) (more generally) a table used for work.
work team  n.  (a) U.S. a team of draught horses, oxen, etc.;  (b) a team of people who work together, a work group; spec. (in the People's Republic of China) any of the working units making up a commune (now hist.).  [With reference to China after Chinese shēngchăn duì, lit. ‘production team’ ( < shēngchăn to produce + duì team).]
work thing  n. an object or item used in work; contrasted with plaything.
worktop  n. chiefly Brit. a work surface in a kitchen.
work train  n. orig. U.S. a railway train used in construction or repair work on the railway line; spec. one with wagons or trucks for conveying materials.
work triangle  n. orig. U.S. (in a kitchen design) a triangle formed by the sink, cooking area, and refrigerator, intended to minimize the movement required for work, esp. while a person is preparing food.
work visa  n. a visa granting a foreign national permission to work legally in the country of issue; a work permit.
workweek  n. chiefly N. Amer.  (a) the total number of hours or days worked in a week;  (b) the part of the week during which one typically works, as distinguished from the weekend; cf. working week n. at working n. Compounds 3.

C4. Chiefly Brit. compounds with the first element in plural (in sense 21).

• a. General attrib.Earliest in works manager n. at Compounds 4b.
• b.

 works canteen  n.
 works manager  n.
 works outing  n.

• c.

works bus  n. a bus provided by a factory, etc., to take employees to and from the workplace.
works committee  n. = works council n.
works council  n. a council consisting of representatives from the workers and management of an industry or business, formed for the discussion of topics of mutual interest.
work-like adj.  (a) industrious, diligent, businesslike (now chiefly Sc.);  (b) resembling work.

OED