Something made or created by hand, showing skill and care, or the work done by someone's hands.
From 'hand' plus 'work', combining Old English 'hand' and 'werc'. The compound has existed since medieval times to describe craftsmanship.
Medieval artisans were incredibly proud of their 'handiwork'—they'd sometimes secretly sign their work by hiding initials in carved details that only craftspeople would recognize, creating an ancient version of artist signatures.
While etymologically neutral ('hand' + 'work'), handiwork was devalued as 'women's crafts' (needlework, domestic production) versus 'craftsmanship' (male guild work), creating a gendered hierarchy of skill and economic value.
Use 'handiwork' for all handmade work; alternatively use 'craft' or 'artisanship' to assert equal professional status.
["craft","artisanship","handmade work"]
Women's textile arts, embroidery, and domestic crafts sustained economies for centuries; feminist scholarship has reclaimed 'handiwork' to honor these contributions as skilled labor.
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