1. polished metal fittings or trim on a ship, especially brass or stainless steel that is kept shiny
Usage: nautical; usually plural

Examples

• The crew spent the morning polishing the brightworks on the deck.
• The yacht's brightworks gleamed in the sunlight.
• Maintaining the ship's brightworks is an important part of naval maintenance.
• The captain insisted that all brightworks be kept spotless.
• Saltwater can corrode brightworks if they are not properly protected.