masonry

American  

[mey-suhn-ree] / ˈmeɪ sən ri /

noun

plural

masonries

1. the craft or occupation of a mason.

2. work constructed by a mason, especially stonework.

   the crumbling masonry of ancient walls.

3. (initial capital letter) Freemasonry.

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masonry British  

/ ˈmeɪsənrɪ /

noun

1. the craft of a mason

2. work that is built by a mason; stonework or brickwork

3. (often capital) short for Freemasonry

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Etymology

Origin of masonry

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English masonerie, from Middle French maçonnerie; equivalent to mason + -ery

Example Sentences

His graciousness even extended to the treatment of wooden water tanks, which he often wrapped in masonry to give them the appearance of little temples—much nicer to look at from the street.

From The Wall Street Journal

A decision has been postponed for years, but now with falling masonry, lingering asbestos, regular fires and exploding toilets, everyone agrees the work needs to be done.

From BBC

Behind them, Gehry designed bulky offices — one clad in dark, rough masonry, the other in irregular white stucco — but they’ve since been overshadowed by the quirky entry sculpture.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2007, MIT filed suit against Gehry’s firm and the general contractor Skanska USA, alleging persistent leaks, cracking masonry, poor drainage and sections where ice and snow slid off the building.

From Los Angeles Times

Locals sometimes used to swim around the stone masonry.

From The Wall Street Journal