n., v., & adj.
n. 1 a a small, usu. rectangular, block of fired or sun-dried clay, used in building. b the material used to make these. c a similar block of concrete etc. 2 Brit. a child's toy building-block. 3 a brick-shaped solid object (a brick of ice-cream). 4 sl. a generous or loyal person.
v.tr. (foll. by in, up) close or block with brickwork.
adj. 1 built of brick (brick wall). 2 of a dull red colour. bang (or knock or run) one's head against a brick wall attempt the impossible. brick-field a place at which bricks are made. brick-red the colour of bricks. like a load (or ton) of bricks colloq. with crushing weight, force, or authority. see through a brick wall have miraculous insight. bricky adj.
[ ME f. MLG, MDu. bri(c)ke, of unkn. orig. ]