brownstone

[broun-stohn]

noun

1. a reddish-brown sandstone, used extensively as a building material.

2. Also called brownstone front. a building, especially a row house, fronted with this stone.

adjective

1. Archaic.,  belonging or pertaining to the well-to-do class.

brownstone

/ ˈbraʊnˌstəʊn /

noun

1. a reddish-brown iron-rich sandstone used for building

2. a house built of or faced with this stone

Word History and Origins

Origin of brownstone¹

First recorded in 1830–40; brown + stone

Example Sentences

She later had a “vision” of a Manhattan brownstone and was soon living in one thanks to Cornelius Vanderbilt.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They live just 0.7 of a mile apart—a 15-minute stroll past low-rise apartments, a playground and handsome brownstones, many with “Free Palestine” and “Cease Fire Now” signs displayed in windows.

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Smith’s $5,000 donation proved a savvy investment: He owns two brownstones in Brooklyn today, Lee notes, with a peal of laughter.

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One form filed in 2001 regarding a Brooklyn brownstone bought for her family listed the property as having five units, but all the other pertinent forms stated correctly that it was four units.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She said it had never previously "clicked" that this was the type of stone used in the buildings referred to in the US as brownstones.

Read more on BBC