handworkEtymologyFrom Middle English hondwerk, from Old English handweorc (“work done by hand; handiwork”), from Proto-Germanic *handuwerką; equivalent to hand + work. Cognate with Dutch handwerk, German Handwerk, Swedish hantverk.handwork means work done by the hands, as opposed to by machine. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 79 out of 100.nounWork done by the hands, as opposed to by machine.verbTo work (materials) by hand, without the use of a machine.