brickyard
UK[ˈbrɪkjɑːd]US[ˈbrɪkjɑːrd]
n
a place where bricks are made or stored.
Morpheme Breakdown
brick
yard
brick
substance
yard
enclosed area
Etymology
the compound 'brickyard' is a transparent english formation from two old germanic roots. the first element, 'brick', entered english via old french from a middle low german source related to 'breken' (to break), referring to the baked clay fragments or blocks. the second element, 'yard', derives from old english 'geard', meaning an enclosed piece of ground, a term of proto-germanic origin. the compound logically and literally denotes an enclosed area or site dedicated to the production or storage of bricks, a term that became standardized with the rise of industrial manufacturing.
Analysis
Structure: brick (substance) + yard (enclosed area)
brick (origin: middle english, from old french brique, of germanic origin; functional role: base noun denoting the object). yard (origin: old english geard, meaning 'enclosure, garden, court'; functional role: noun suffix denoting a place or area).
Examples
the old brickyard on the edge of town has been converted into a modern art complex.
he worked long hours at the brickyard, stacking the newly fired bricks.
the historical society placed a plaque marking the site of the city's first brickyard.