bricktop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, dated, historical
Quick answer
What does “bricktop” mean?
A person with reddish or ginger hair.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person with reddish or ginger hair.
A historical slang term, originally for a person with red hair; most famously used as the nickname for 1920s American nightclub owner and jazz singer Ada 'Bricktop' Smith, whose red hair inspired the moniker. It can also refer to a type of hairstyle or a redheaded individual.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in American English. While understood in British English, it is even less common and would likely only be recognized in historical or biographical contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, the primary connotation is historical/archaic. In American English, it carries a specific cultural reference to the Jazz Age. When used literally for hair, it may sound old-fashioned or impolite.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern usage. Higher likelihood of encounter in American texts discussing 1920s-30s cultural history.
Grammar
How to Use “bricktop” in a Sentence
be nicknamed Bricktopgo by the name Bricktopknown as Bricktop for his/her hairVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bricktop” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb use]
American English
- [No standard verb use]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb use]
American English
- [No standard adverb use]
adjective
British English
- He was the spitting image of his bricktop grandfather.
- The old photo showed a bricktop lad grinning at the camera.
American English
- She faced teasing for her bricktop curls in elementary school.
- The bricktop comedian used his hair as part of his act.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, cultural, or biographical studies, e.g., 'The Parisian salon of Bricktop was a hub for expatriate artists.'
Everyday
Extremely rare. If used, it would be as a dated nickname or in reference to the historical figure.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bricktop”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bricktop”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bricktop”
- Using it as a current, polite term for a redhead. Confusing it with a type of brick or roofing material. Mispronouncing it with stress on the second syllable (/brɪkˈtɒp/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered dated and can be seen as impolite or overly familiar. Terms like 'redhead' or 'person with red hair' are neutral and preferred.
She was given the nickname due to her bright red hair, which was likened to the colour of bricks.
Yes, though rarely. It can function attributively (e.g., 'a bricktop child'), but this usage is also archaic and informal.
It originated in American English and is more firmly embedded in American cultural history. While understood in the UK, it is even less common there and lacks the specific Jazz Age connotations.
A person with reddish or ginger hair.
Bricktop is usually informal, dated, historical in register.
Bricktop: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrɪk.tɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrɪk.tɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No established idioms. The word itself is a nickname/descriptor.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a brick has a reddish colour, and it's on TOP of someone's head instead of hair. 'Brick-top' = red hair on top.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOURCE DOMAIN: Building Material (Brick) -> TARGET DOMAIN: Physical Trait (Hair Colour). Reddish hair is metaphorically a 'brick' coloured top.
Practice
Quiz
In modern usage, the word 'bricktop' is best described as: