breezeblock
breezeblock Lexical Profile
breezeblock Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British A lightweight building brick made from concrete and cinders or ash, used widely in wall construction.
"The builders constructed the garage walls using grey breezeblocks before applying a layer of exterior plaster."
A decorative concrete masonry block cast with patterned openings to allow airflow while providing shade and privacy.
"The mid-century patio featured a geometric breezeblock wall that filtered the afternoon sunlight."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although commonly assumed to refer to air passing through decorative perforations, the 'breeze' in 'breezeblock' originally comes from the French word 'braise' (cinders), referring to the coal ash used to manufacture lightweight building blocks.
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 20th century from 'breeze' (in the industrial sense of small cinders or coal ash, from Old French 'brese' meaning 'live coals') and 'block'.