masonry, n.
(ˈmeɪs(ə)nrɪ)
Forms: 4 masonerie, 4–5 masonrye, 5 masonri, masynry, masounrye, masondre, 5–7 masonrie, 6 massonnery, 5– masonry.
[a. F. ma{cced}onnerie (14th c.), f. ma{cced}on mason n.1: see -ery, -ry. Cf. med.L. massoneria (Du Cange).]
1. The art, skill, or occupation of a mason; the art or work of building in stone. Now rare.
| a 1400 Constit. Masonry (Halliw. 1844) 13 At these lordys prayers they cownterfetyd gemetry, And ȝaf hyt the name of masonry. c 1420 S. Etheldred 789 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 300 Of no masynry to deyȝt þat ston, þey nadde no nede. c 1449 Pecock Repr. i. x. 50 Lijk as he schulde vnresonabili and reprouabili aske, if he askid of a treuthe in masonry, where it is groundid in carpentrie. 1530 Palsgr. 429/1, I am skylled or connynge in physicke or palmestrye or massonnery. c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. lv, When wastefull warre shall Statues ouer-turne, And broiles roote out the worke of masonry. 1632 Lithgow Trav. vi. 261 [It] hath beene hewen out of the Rocke, by..men, experimented in Masonry. 1748 Hume Ess., Understanding xi. (1777) II. 152 Brick and stone and mortar, and all the instruments of masonry. |
2. concr. That which is built or constructed by a mason; work executed by a mason; stonework.
| ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 302 Sorowe was peynted next Envye Upon that walle of masonrye. c 1384 ― H. Fame iii. 213 Hit nedith nought you more to tell..how they hate yn masoneryes, As corbettz fulle of ymageryes. 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 335 The masounry wrought ful clene, Off quyke stonys bryht & schene. 1586 J. Hooker Hist. Irel. in Holinshed II. 151/2 The faire bridge of Athlon..he builded with masonrie and free stone. 1601 Shakes. All's Well ii. i. 31, I shal stay here..Creeking my shooes on the plaine Masonry. 1752 Mason Elfrida Poems 1830 II. 33 From its base..All is of choicest masonry. 1843 Borrow Bible in Spain xv, Several gates had been blocked up with masonry. 1865 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. xxi. ii. (1872) IX. 276 It shows excellent sound masonries. 1876 R. Routledge Discov. 29 The exterior is formed of a casing of solid masonry strengthened with iron hoops. |
| transf. 1774 Pennant Tour Scotl. in 1772, 120 The strata narrow and regular, forming a stupendous natural masonry. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. i. 3 The particles..arrange themselves in layers, like courses of atomic masonry. |
3. a. The craft, principles, and mysteries of freemasons;
= freemasonry 1, 2. Also
transf.| 1686 Plot Staffordsh. 316 A large parchment volum they have amongst them, containing the History and Rules of the craft of Masonry. 1753 Scots Mag. Sept. 427/2 In Masonry let me be blest. 1826 Mem. Margravine of Anspach II. i. 14 He was ignorant of the machinations of modern Masonry. 1839 Penny Cycl. XIV. 482/2 An act was passed against Masonry in the third year of Henry VI. 1926 J. Black You can't Win xv. 202 George..took no pains to hide himself, feeling sure that the masonry of the road..would protect him against the common enemy—the law. |
b. (See
quot. 1896).
slang.| 1841 Lytton Night & Morning (ed. 2) II. iii. viii. 178, I was one of them, and know the masonry. 1896 Farmer & Henley Slang IV. 289/1 Masonry, secret signs & pass⁓words. |
4. attrib. Composed or built of masonry.
| 1875 R. F. Martin tr. Havrez' Winding Mach. 96 M. Kraft has carried his drum shaft upon a group of cast-iron columns, without any masonry walls whatever. 1880 Responsib. Opium Trade 5 It is exposed for a considerable time in large masonry tanks. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 4 Dec. 2/1 Girder bridges can obviously be destroyed much more easily than masonry arches. |
Hence
ˈmasonry v. trans., to build or strengthen with masonry. Also
ˈmasonried ppl. a.| 1842 Mechanics' Mag. XXXVI. 480 If they [certain tunnels] were not masonried throughout..a serious fall of earth and rock will take place. 1864 C. P. Smyth Our Inheritance v. xxii, It..can be explained in a much easier manner, than by going up, in the teeth of masonried facts, to the primeval antiquity of the world. 1883 Siderial Messenger II. 177 Marked by masonried station signals. |