Etymology Map
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Brick

3 stages from Middle Dutch to English.

Today it means a block of baked clay for building

Where does the word "brick" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch brikke, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
brikke
Middle Dutch · medieval
"slab"
a Middle Dutch word, related to 'break': a broken piece
2
Stage 2 of 3
brique
Old French · medieval
"brick"
brick-making spread from Flanders
3
Stage 3 of 3
brick
English · 1400s
"brick"
'brick' for a reliable person is 1840s slang
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Read the full story

Brick’s story begins in Middle Dutch: brikke meant “slab.” A Middle Dutch word, related to 'break': a broken piece. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as brique. Brick-making spread from Flanders. It reached English by 1400s as brick. 'brick' for a reliable person is 1840s slang. Today, brick means a block of baked clay for building.