checkwork

English

Etymology

check +‎ work

Noun

checkwork (uncountable)

1. A pattern of alternate squares like those of a checkerboard.
   • 1988, Anthropology & Archeology of Eurasia - Volumes 27-28, page 24:

     It should be mentioned that "checkwork" is also employed to decorate the heads of several figurines from Western Europe (Brassempouy, Menton).

   • 1995, Mariana Gvozdover, Art of the Mammoth Hunters: The Finds from Avdeevo, page 19:

     But the assumption that checkwork is also a female decoration is proved by the fact that in some cases the figurines from Western Europe have details showing this same decorative feature .

   • 2008, Robert Alter, The Five Books of Moses: A Translation with Commentary, page 473:

     And these are the garments that they shall make: breastplate and ephod and robe and checkwork tunic, turban and sash.

   • 2018, Guy Stagg, The Crossway:

     This was a basin midway between Mt Galičica and Mt Baba, a checkwork of low hills and terraced orchards, tipping south towards Lake Prespa.

2. Work that is done in order to check (inspect or verify) something.
   • 1918, Annual Report of the Director of the Bureau of Standards, page 190:

     Checkwork done at the Mellon Institute has shown the specifications to be fair and reasonable.

   • 1967, United States. Congress, “Report No. 318: Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, The Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, Fiscal Year 1968”, in Reports and Documents, volume 3, page 10:

     The remaining 404 additional employees (6 agents and 398 clerks) are for assignment at the seat of government, the bult to be utilized to meet a rapidly rising volume of name and fingerprint checkwork. The Committee was advised that during 1966, the Bureau received 2,426,665 names for search through its files, up 43% over the prior year and a further substantial increase in name checkwork is anticipated.

   • 2012, Robin Millar ·, Doing Science, page 142:

     In Medawar's own terms they describe the 'checkwork' rather than giving the wider picture of 'guesswork and checkwork' .

   • 2022, Jennifer D. Klein, ‎Kapono Ciotti, Landscape Model of Learning:

     Educators often load themselves down with grading that's really just checkwork designed to ensure students complete the activities assigned.

3. (fishing) The mechanism on a reel that halts it when it is unwinding.
   • 1964, The Fishing Gazette [New Series] - Issues 4524-4544, page 218:

     The deluxe reel with every refinement including adjustable check, quick-release drum, dual checkwork, etc.

   • 1979, The Salmon and Trout Magazine: Volumes 215-223, page 61:

     With the reel comes an instruction booklet of exemplary clarity, in respect of both text and illustration, a necessity in view of the alterations to the checkwork which the angler himself may make for left or right-hand wind, for silent running and so on.

   • 1987, A. J. McClane, ‎Keith Gardner, The Complete Book of Fishing, page 20:

     When set properly, the checkwork should offer more resistance to the line when it's going out than when it's being wound in.

References

• “checkwork”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.