Etymology From Middle English woodewerk (“carpentry”), equivalent to wood + work.
1
Usually Something made from wood, especially cabinets and trim (e.g., baseboards, doorframes) made from millwork.
Some woodwork and the plaster ceiling medallions have been duplicated to match the originals.2008 September 14, Bill Cunniff, “A stroll through OLD IRVING PARK”, in The Chicago Sun-Times:
2
Usually Working with wood.
He does woodwork as a hobby.
The unthinking man assumes that if woodwork is to be taught, the best person to do it must be a carpenter1906, Tasmania. Education Dept, The educational record, volumes 1-6, page 14:
3
Broadly, Figuratively, Usually A place of concealment or obscurity.
out of the woodwork
Friends and relatives were coming out of the woodwork to celebrate his good fortune.
2 more examples
So when he wants to, he can just kind of blend into the woodwork.
[Security personnel] seemed to come out of the woodwork from all directions, issuing orders, and rushing toward their protectees and seeking to secure the room.2026 April 26, Linda Feldmann, “After the gunfire: Moments of grace at White House correspondents’ dinner”, in The Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Massachusetts: Christian Science Publishing Society, →ISSN, →OCLC:
That goal was so close, it went in off the woodwork.
Carroll thought he had equalised with his header against the bar with eight minutes left. Liverpool claimed the ball had cross the line and Chelsea were grateful for a miraculous intervention from Cech to turn his effort on to the woodwork.2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:
Etymology From Middle English woodewerk (“carpentry”), equivalent to wood + work.
1
Dated To go completely stealth as a transgender person. (From the idea of fading or blending into the woodwork.)
"Instead of 'woodworking,' or disappearing into the mainstream — as we are capable of and qualified to do — we have chosen not to do so." Outside of the transsexual community, other changes were taking place that made it possible for[…]1997, Patrick Califia, Sex Changes: The Politics of Transgenderism:
Maybe — and this was essential for political activism — you didn't have to "woodwork" but could be transgendered for all to see. By the mid '90s the Internet had arrived — and spread these new ideas like wildfire.[…]2001 November, Out, page 80: