church work
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Said of any work that advances slowly.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “church work” mean?
Said of any work that advances slowly.
Is “church work” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.