cutwork

noun

cut·​work ˈkət-ˌwərk How to pronounce cutwork (audio)
: embroidery usually on linen in which a design is outlined in buttonhole stitch and the enclosed material cut away

Examples of cutwork in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Photo: Courtesy of Katherine Bernard For three days between fittings, Nicholas, his husband Jake Wiseman, and two of my best friends bopped around Paris flea markets with me hunting for candelabras, vases, and cutwork tablecloths to be decor for the wedding. Katherine Bernard, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024 Many antique linens are sewn together with lace or have cutwork details that require delicate handling, so the dryer is out of the question. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Aug. 2024 This Bode dress that is made from a cutwork tablecloth from the 1910s-1930s—I’m a fan of Emily’s vision for the brand and its stores. Talia Abbas, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2024 The cutwork curlicues, stars, and trees on the border of this runner definitely deliver the wow factor. Sarah Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2023 The overskirt is appliqued with cutwork of large dahlias. Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cutwork was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near cutwork

Cite this Entry

“Cutwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutwork. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on cutwork

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!