Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “goldbrick” come from?

goldbrick (English) comes from English Brick, from English Bridge, from Middle English brigge, from Old Norse bryggja, from Proto-Germanic brewwaną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰrewh₁-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- — to bear, carry.

goldbrick (English): Something fraudulent or nonexistent offered for...

Definitions

  1. Something fraudulent or nonexistent offered for...

Ancestry of “goldbrick”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBrick—
2EnglishBridge—
3Middle EnglishbriggeA bridge
4Old Norsebryggjapier, gangway
5Proto-Germanicbrewwanąto brew
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrewh₁-to boil; to brew
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰer-to bear, carry

Words derived from “goldbrick”

  • goldbricker
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- →