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.”