fretwork

American  

[fret-wurk] / ˈfrɛtˌwɜrk /

noun

1. ornamental work consisting of interlacing parts, especially work in which the design is formed by perforation.

2. any pattern of dark and light, such as that of perforated fretwork.

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fretwork British  

/ ˈfrɛtˌwɜːk /

noun

1. decorative geometrical carving or openwork

2. any similar pattern of light and dark

3. ornamental work of three-dimensional frets

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Etymology

Origin of fretwork

First recorded in 1595–1605; fret ² + work

Example Sentences

Its fretwork of thin glass tubes was bent and shaped to resemble an old-fashioned bellows camera.

From Washington Post • Apr. 16, 2023

Years later they married, and Louise displayed the cherished card, tucked into the fretwork of a bedroom dresser, for decades to come.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 13, 2023

And Wolfgang Van Halen delivered flawless renditions of his father's fretwork on covers of pop-metal classics Panama and Hot For Teacher.

From BBC • Sep. 28, 2022

So we made a shirt with an extra sleeve in it, and a musician crouched behind doing the fretwork as Redden strummed.

From The Guardian • May 29, 2017

Padva, pausing to admire one in ivory satin delicately covered with black velvet fretwork, like wrought iron in long scrolling lines and curves.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

• color
• design
• finery
• ornament
• plaque
• ribbon
• trinket
• wreath