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

From BBC

To restore it, they employed many of the same techniques they use on woodwork in historic brownstones.

From Seattle Times

The crew, who knew each other from the first movie, delighted in taking turns throwing foam bricks off the roof of a dilapidated New York City brownstone in the middle of the night.

From Los Angeles Times

The art in the film also makes a character out of New York City, from Times Square and the Brooklyn Bridge, to the bodegas and brownstone apartments, the city feels alive.

From Salon

A street lined with artificial brownstones to resemble a New York borough is the main sign that the place sometimes provides a stamp-sized view of city life.

From Salon