metalworksn.
/ˈmɛtlwəːks/, U.S. /ˈmɛdlˌwərks/ A factory where metal or metal goods are produced.In quots. 1701 and 1758 a tin mine and smelting works; cf. stannary n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > workplace > places for working with specific materials > place for working with metal > [noun]
metalworks1701
1701 R. Morden New Descr. & State of Eng. 22 The most remarkable Places are the Stannaries or Metal-works.
1758 W. Borlase Nat. Hist. Cornwall xv. 174 In the mine..and metal-works, the neat gain to the government..is two hundred and eighteen pounds and four-pence per month.
1833 Times 22 Jan. 4/6 (advt.) Catalogues had at the Auction Mart: of Messrs. Johnson and Stokes, Assay-office and metal works.
1850 Sci. Amer. 16 Nov. 66/3 Account of the author's tour of observation through the mines and metal works of England.
1879 Scribner's 157/2 Dephosphorizing, or extracting the phosphorus from iron, still attracts very great attention among metal works.
1908 Westm. Gaz. 3 Oct. 10/1 On the hours of work in foundries and metal-works generally the Committee felt itself still imperfectly informed.
1990 Los Angeles June 204 There's one involving a labor strike at the local metalworks, which turns ugly, then uglier, then downright gargoylish.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1701