stumpwork

[ stuhmp-wurk ]

noun

1. a type of embroidery popular in the 17th century, consisting of intricate, colorful designs padded with horsehair to make them stand out in relief.

stumpwork

/ ˈstʌmpˌwɜːk /

noun

1. a type of embroidery of the 15th to 17th centuries featuring raised or embossed figures, padded with cotton wool or hair

Word History and Origins

Origin of stumpwork¹

First recorded in 1900–05; stump + work

Example Sentences

The cover art of Dry Cleaning’s 2022 album is a light pink bar of soap with blonde strands of hair on it spelling out the title, “Stumpwork.”

From Washington Post

“Stumpwork,” the title of a song as well as the new album, is something she’s been aching to use for ages.

From New York Times

Compared to “New Long Leg,” in some ways “Stumpwork” is an American album.

From New York Times

On “Stumpwork,” Shaw gets explicitly polemical now and then.

From New York Times

In contrast, “Stumpwork” has the dazed, heat-hazy vibe of a drunken summer afternoon.

From New York Times