artisan

Everyday

1. An artisan is a skilled worker who makes things by hand, such as a carpenter, potter or weaver. tree →
2. (adjective) Artisan bread, cheese and so on are made by hand in small amounts, in a traditional way. tree →

In the lessons

History lessons talk about medieval artisans in guilds: blacksmiths, shoemakers, masons. Today shops label food «artisan» to show it is handmade.

Examples

• The artisan carved a beautiful wooden chair. tree →
• In medieval towns artisans belonged to guilds. tree →
• Potters and glassblowers are artisans. tree →
• We bought artisan bread at the market. tree →
• The artisan taught his apprentice for seven years. tree →
• Local artisans sell crafts at the fair. tree →
• Late one evening a certain artisan happened to be returning home from a jovial feast in a distant village. tree →

Note

Pronounced «AR-ti-zan» (UK also «ar-ti-ZAN»). Not the same as «artist», though artisans can be artistic.

In Jewish tradition

History lessons talk about medieval artisans in guilds: blacksmiths, shoemakers, masons. Today shops label food «artisan» to show it is handmade.

Examples

• When people learned of their existence, they all left the original artisan and went to them, honoring them, and negotiating with them in their building enterprises " (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Pronounced «AR-ti-zan» (UK also «ar-ti-ZAN»). Not the same as «artist», though artisans can be artistic.