taskwork

[ task-wurk, tahsk- ]

noun

1. work assigned or imposed as a task.
2. unpleasant or disagreeable work.
3. work paid for by the job; piecework.

taskwork

/ ˈtɑːskˌwɜːk /

noun

1. hard or unpleasant work
2. a rare word for piecework

Word History and Origins

Origin of taskwork¹

First recorded in 1480–90; task + work

Example Sentences

Our nature craves excitement,—some stimulus that shall set the pulses dancing and thrill the jaded frame, and lift the spirit above the taskwork of life and the dreary and hard conditions which make up the daily lot of multitudes.

From Project Gutenberg

The children of Israel were compelled to perform heavy tasks in the field, and taskwork in clay and bricks; and they built for Pharaoh the treasure cities of Pithom and Ramses, and Pharaoh commanded all his people to throw into the Nile all the male children born to the Israelites, but to let the daughters live.

From Project Gutenberg

Were they to give up the memory of their fathers, and their attachment to their customary mode of life, in order to perform taskwork for the Egyptians and become Egyptians?

From Project Gutenberg

Lost in these reflections, Ernestine continued her novel taskwork, but the Staatsr�thin suddenly discovered, to her horror, that she was throwing the stems in with the beans, and the beans into the bowl of stems and strings.

From Project Gutenberg

Even to the lamentable taskwork of bad comic engravings for dead and putrescent “Wit’s Magazines” his biographer has tracked him and taken note of his doings.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• action
• assignment
• business
• care
• duty
• effort
• office
• operation
• project
• responsibility
• role
• stint
• task
• thing
• work