frostworkn.
/ˈfrɒs(t)wəːk/, U.S. /ˈfrɔs(t)ˌwərk/, /ˈfrɑs(t)ˌwərk/ 1. Work, esp. embroidery or engraving, done in imitation of the appearance of frost, or the patterns produced by it. Also: an instance of this. Cf. frost-flower n. 1, frosted adj. 3a. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > pattern or design > [noun] > others
popinjay1322
serpent1388
moss-work1600
flame1602
frostwork1631
damask branch1634
mascaron1664
lacework1675
swash1680
branch-work1702
escallop-shella1706
festoon work1712
ovum1728
bricking1760
rising sun1787
ram's horn1842
linen-pattern1845
linen-scroll1854
wheel-rood1862
primal1875
patch ornament1878
tree1879
wheel-cross1882
skeuomorph1889
linenfold1891
taotie1915
boteh1917
pelta1935
starburst1953
quilling1972
towel-pattern-
1631 J. Taylor Needles Excellency sig. A4 For Tent-worke, Raisd-worke, Laid-worke, Frost-worke.
1649 E. Sparke in J. Shute Sarah & Hagar To Rdr. sig. b Many others set but their slight Frost-works upon Sattin.
1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. i. 7 Her body looks like Silver in Frost-work.
1716 J. Addison Free-holder No. 27. 152 The Front of the Temple was very curiously adorned with Stars and Garters, Docal Coronets, General's Staffs, and many other Emblems of Honour wrought in the most beautiful Frost-Work.
1841 E. Hawkins Silver Coins Eng. 254 The letters also upon these [coins]..are very neatly decorated with frost work.
1872 J. Ruskin Eagle's Nest §174 The feathers like frost-work of silver.
1891 Decorator & Furnisher 19 12/2 Thrown over the surface is a trailing frostwork in white, which makes of it an exquisite material.
1917 Locomotive Engineers Jrnl. May 381/2 A delicate piece of silver frost work hammered out by Achmed's patient fingers into an exquisite pattern of pomegranate flowers and fruit.
2. The delicate patterns formed by frost on the ground, a window, or other surface. Also figurative, chiefly with reference to delicacy or lack of substance (in quot. 1853 also with allusion to frost n. 3b). Also occasionally in plural in same sense.
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the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cold weather > [noun] > freezing or frosty weather > frost > formations
frostwork1648
ice flower1694
ice fern1848
1648 R. Herrick Hesperides 103 The Fringe that circumbinds it too, Is Spangle-work of trembling dew, Which, gently gleaming, makes a show, Like Frost-work glitt'ring on the Snow.
1657 H. Bold Wit a Sporting 84 No Christal frost-work deckt the ground T'intice her foot.
1729 R. Savage Wanderer iii. 65 In Frost-work now delight the sportive kind [sc. Fairies].
1783 S. Hoole Aurelia i. 14 Verdant fields with frost-work silver'd o'er.
1792 S. Rogers Pleasures Mem. ii. 438 Lo, Fancy's fairy frost-work melts away.
1827 Gentleman's Mag. 97 ii. 483 I peeped through the chamber window externally beautified by the glittering frost-work.
1853 C. Brontë Villette II. xix. 55 Those few warm words..breathed on that frail frost-work of reserve.
1862 J. McCosh Supernat. ii. i. §4. 153 The frostworks on our flag-stones, and windows, so like the tree in their ramifications.
1914 E. T. Fairbanks Town of St. Johnsbury xxxiii. 449 The story was mere frostwork of the imagination melting away under the sunlight of truth.
1984 R. Lebeaux Thoreau's Seasons viii. 315 The frostwork on the trees, the beautiful mackerel sky: these sights provided some diversion and consolation.
2010 West Austral. (Perth) (Nexis) 11 May 7 The palace's snowy whiteness..made it look unreal, like the frostwork on a windowpane.
3. A formation or deposit resembling frost or ice, found in caves; (in later use) spec. an encrustation consisting of fine, needle-like structures, typically of aragonite or calcite, arranged in dense clusters which resemble thick layers of frost.
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the world > the earth > structure of the earth > structural features > rock formations > [noun] > stiria > stalagmite or stalactite
round dropstone1668
stalactite1677
stalactites1681
stalagmite1681
water pipe1681
dropstone1695
icicle1695
watericle1776
stalagmite1815
frostwork1835
tallow1876
helictite1882
stalagma1903
1835 Sat. Mag. Apr. 162/2 Its sides are incrusted with stalactical frost-work of variegated colours.
1924 Republic City (Kansas) News 7 Aug. 2/1 The frostwork forms the chief beauty of the cave.
1964 Bee (Danville, Va.) 25 Mar. 6 c/5 They found another passage..covered with aragonite frostwork.
2010 J. E. Mills Creation of Caves ii. 23 Frostwork can sometimes grow over other formations, such as cave popcorn.
Compounds
General attributive.
ΚΠ
1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. iii. 56 Like frost work silver.
1822 P. B. Shelley Hellas 22 Ye who strike To dust the citadels of sanguine kings..And thaw their frostwork diadems like dew.
1832 J. Bree St. Herbert's Isle 4 The frost-work palace of an April night.
1870 ‘F. Fern’ Ginger-snaps 238 Cobweb tissues, with frost-work trimmings... And such ribbons!
2006 Derby Evening Tel. (Nexis) 13 Mar. 12 The exotic frostwork grotto of the massive terrace below the west front.
Derivatives
ˈfrost-worked adj. rare ornamented with frostwork.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > artistic work in metal > [adjective] > relating to gold or silver articles > types of decoration on silver
writhen1450
frost-worked1710
cut-card1920
1710 London Gaz. No. 4748/4 A small silver Milk Pot frost worked.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1631