English

Alternative forms

• fieldwork
• field-work

Noun

field work ‎(plural field works)

1. A temporary fortification in the field
   • 1954 - Irish Defense Act, 1954; Section 268:

     If any person, without lawful authority, makes or attempts to make any sketch, drawing, photograph, picture, painting, model or note of any fort, battery, field work, fortification or any military work of defence, aerodrome, barracks, post, magazine, munition factory, stores depot or any other Government property occupied or partly occupied by the Defence Forces or any portion thereof, such person shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or, at the discretion of the court, imprisonment for any term not exceeding twelve months, and all sketches, drawings, photographs, pictures, paintings, models and notes and all tools and all materials or apparatus for sketching, drawing, photographing, painting or modelling found in his possession shall be forfeited and may be destroyed, sold or otherwise disposed of as a Minister of State directs.

2. (in scientific research) The collection of raw data, in the field
   • 1993, Dick Hobbs, Tim May, Interpreting the field: accounts of ethnography, page 45:

     They must gain access, engage in field-work, and finally leave the field to carry out analysis.

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