śílpa n. (of doubtful derivation) the art of variegating, variegated or diversified appearance, decoration, ornament, artistic work
VS. Br. Hariv. Kathās. BhP.

• any manual art or craft, any handicraft or mechanical or fine art (64 such arts or crafts, sometimes called bāhya-kalā, 'external or practical arts', are enumerated, e.g. carpentering, architecture, jewellery, farriery, acting, dancing, music, medicine, poetry &c. [cf. IW. 185]

• and 64 abhyantara-kalā, 'secret arts', e.g. kissing, embracing, and various other arts of coquetry) ŚāṅkhBr. Mn. MBh. &c

• skill in any art or craft or work of art, ingenuity, contrivance MBh. Kāv. &c

• any act or work (also m.) BhP.

• ceremonial act, ceremony, rite (also m.) MW.

• form, shape Naigh. iii, 7 (cf. su-śilpa)

• a partic. kind of Śastra or hymn (of a highly artificial character, recited on the 6th day of the Pṛishṭhya Ṣaḍ-aha, at the Viśvajit &c.) Br. ŚrS.

• a kind of sacrificial ladle (?) L.

• (du. with jamad-agneḥ) N. of two Sāmans ĀrshBr.

• m. N. of a teacher ŚBr.

• (ā), f. a barber's shop L.

• (ī), f. a female artisan or mechanic Cat.

• (śilpá), mfn. variegated VS. TS.

Sanskrit-English Dictionary, by M. Monier William