[1765–75; wig + -ery]This word is first recorded in the period 1765–75. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: backwash, bilateral, civilization, copperhead, lightweight-ery is a suffix of nouns denoting occupation, business, calling or condition, place orestablishment, goods or products, things collectively, qualities, actions, etc. Otherwords that use the affix -ery include: bakery, cutlery, fishery, trickery, witchery