Slangora

brickfielder

(Australia) A hot, dry, dusty wind of southern or central Australia.

ˈbɹɪkfilwɚdDocumented since 1850sSilenthistorical67 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇦🇺 Australian & NZ slang
1 definition
Community

Etymology timeline

Born ~1850 · no dated citations yet
1850BornToday, 2026

Definitions

Australia
#1·Apr 27, 2026AUS

(Australia) A hot, dry, dusty wind of southern or central Australia.

Returning home, he discovers that the house is full of sand ; that the brickfielder has even insinuated itself between the leaves of his books ; that at dinner he will probably find that his favourite dish has been spoiled by the brickfi…
Origin: From the location name Brickfield Hill, after the hill in Surry Hills (now in inner Sydney) from the direction of which a hot wind blew into Sydney in its early days. The term spread to Melbourne by circa 1850, and to central Australia by circa 1900, then to Western Australia. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

Brickfielder means: A hot, dry, dusty wind of southern or central Australia.. It is mainly Australian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

brickfielder means: A hot, dry, dusty wind of southern or central Australia.. Register: informal, Australian English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.

Cluster: general
Was this helpful?

Comments

For specific readers

Brickfielder means: A hot, dry, dusty wind of southern or central Australia.. It is mainly Australian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

Used in

Australia

Have a better definition?

Add your own interpretation of "brickfielder".

Add definition

🇦🇺About Australian & NZ slang slang

Aussie and Kiwi vocabulary — bogan, daggy, brekkie, sheila, bach, jandals — the whole Antipodean lexicon, including outback dialect, surf and beach culture, and Sydney/Melbourne street slang.

See all Australian & NZ slang slang on Slangora.

Tags

Other words near "brickfielder" (B)

Browse all slang words starting with B.

Related terms

People also read

Semantically related