1. The making of wire; work done in or with wire; fabrics or objects made of wire.
1587. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 380. Edmond Burchall wierdrauer for wierworke.
1674. Ray, Coll. Words, 132. The manner of the Wire-work at Tintern in Monmothshire.
1690. M. Evelyn, Fop-Dict., 18. Fil-grain’d, dressing-Boxes, Baskets, or whatever else is made of Silver Wire-work.
1771. Phil. Trans., LXI. 322. Observe to clean the rails and wireworks, in the water-courses, of the weeds and grass.
1849. Kelly’s Builder’s Price Bk., 157. Brass trellis wire-work, for bookcases.
1854. Poultry Chron., I. 348. Wire work … to enclose poultry.
1908. Act 8 Edw. VII., c. 28 Sched. 1. Erection of wireworks in hop gardens.
attrib. 1897. Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, xxviii. 611. Flower-stands … with wire-work legs.
2. pl. An establishment where wire is made or where wire goods are manufactured.
1598. Acts Privy Counc. (N.S.), XXVIII. 594. That the said Hanbery … should … deliver … at the said wyerwoorkes the nomber of 150 tonnes of … mallyable iron.
