Masonry

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈmeɪsənɹi/

Definitions

1. The discipline involving the creation and assembly of structures using solid materials such as bricks, stones, or concrete blocks is known for its durability and artistry
2. This practice encompasses the skilled labor required for creating walls and edifices from various materials, emphasizing both aesthetic appeal and strength
3. The craft of constructing buildings and structures using bricks, stones, and concrete is characterized by both technical skill and artistic expression

Etymology: Stonework and brickwork share a surprisingly split ancestry in English. The word "masonry" arrived in Middle English partly from Old French "maçonerie", the craft of the "maçon" (the mason), and partly by English speakers simply attaching the suffix "-ry" to the existing word "mason". So the term has two routes into the language that met and blended. The base word "mason" is the older piece, and the suffix does the rest of the work. "-ry" appended to a trade name creates a noun for the craft, practice, or work associated with that trade, much as "carpentry" or "joinery" do. "Masonry" therefore names both the skill of shaping and laying stone and the finished structure that results from it.

Synonyms: brickwork, stonework