1. decorative openwork design made by cutting or carving intricate patterns, especially in wood or metal

Examples

• The Victorian house featured elaborate fretwork along the porch railings.
• She admired the delicate fretwork on the antique jewelry box.
• The craftsman spent hours creating intricate fretwork panels for the cabinet doors.
• Gothic cathedrals are famous for their stone fretwork in the windows.
• The wooden screen displayed beautiful fretwork patterns of vines and flowers.
• Metal fretwork adorned the balconies of the historic building.