The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
make-work \make-work\ n. Active work of litle value, such as assignments given by teachers to students to keep them busy while the teacher performs other tasks, or chores performed to while away time; also called busywork. Syn: busywork. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
make-work n 1: active work of little value; "while he was waiting he filled the days with busywork" [syn: busywork, make- work]