brownstone
UK[ˈbraʊn.stəʊn]US[ˈbraʊn.stoʊn]
n
a type of reddish-brown sandstone used for building.
n
a house with a front built from this type of stone, especially a traditional multi-story house in a city.
Morpheme Breakdown
brown
stone
brown
stone
Etymology
the word is a transparent compound formed from two old english roots. 'brown' originates from the proto-germanic brūnaz, referring broadly to a dark or shining color. 'stone' derives from proto-germanic stainaz, meaning a rock or a precious stone. the compound 'brownstone' first emerged in the early 19th century as a descriptive geological term for a specific variety of sandstone prized in construction for its distinctive hue and workability. its meaning later extended by metonymy to denote the stylish urban townhouses clad in this material, particularly those built during the 19th century in northeastern american cities.
Analysis
Structure: brown + stone
brown (old english, meaning the color brown) + stone (old english, meaning rock or hard mineral matter)
Examples
the historic district is famous for its rows of preserved brownstones.
the building's facade was constructed from durable brownstone quarried in new jersey.
they renovated an old brownstone into several modern apartments.