brick-red
UK[ˌbrɪk ˈred]US[ˌbrɪk ˈred]
adj
of a warm brownish-red colour similar to that of some bricks.
Morpheme Breakdown
brick
red
brick
brick
red
red
Etymology
the compound adjective "brick-red" is a straightforward descriptive formation in english, following the common pattern of noun + colour. the first element, "brick," refers to the fired clay building material, which is often associated with a characteristic reddish-brown hue. the second element, "red," is the fundamental colour term from old english. the term's logic is entirely transparent, directly comparing a specific shade to the typical colour of bricks, showcasing english's capacity for creating precise colour descriptors through compounding. it is a modern compound, with both elements retaining their core meanings from their germanic origins.
Analysis
Structure: brick (brick) + red (red)
brick (middle english, from old french 'brique', of germanic origin; a building block) + red (old english 'rēad', of germanic origin; the colour).
Examples
the artist mixed yellow ochre and burnt sienna to achieve a perfect brick-red tone for the farmhouse.
in autumn, the leaves of the sugar maple turn a brilliant brick-red.
she painted her front door a welcoming shade of brick-red.