Lacework
/ˈleɪsˌwɜːrk/noun
Decorative openwork made of lace or a lace-like pattern or structure.
Did you know?The lace in *lacework* comes from a word family tied to cords, nooses, and nets, so even something delicate and beautiful carries the ancient logic of binding and capture.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leig-
“to bind, tie, or twist”
Latin
Latin
laqueus
“noose, snare, or loop”
Old French
Old French
las
“cord, snare, or lace”
Middle English
English
lace
“cord, string, or fastening”
Modern English
English
lacework
“work made of lace or resembling lace”