bricklay

English

Etymology

Back-formation from bricklaying and bricklayer, themselves from the phrasal verb lay brick. By surface analysis, brick +‎ lay.

Pronunciation

• enPR: brĭk′-lā′, IPA^(key): /ˈbɹɪkˌleɪ/
• Rhymes: -ɪkleɪ

Verb

bricklay (third-person singular simple present bricklays, present participle bricklaying, simple past and past participle bricklaid)

1. (rare, nonstandard, ambitransitive, construction) To lay brick; to use mortar to construct a structure using bricks.

   Synonym: lay brick(s)

   Antonym: debrick

Usage notes

• Most commonly seen in the form bricklaying, likely due to the already-established term. E.g., “they’re bricklaying right now.”