Frog

[delly0408]

Why is the hollow in a house brick called a Frog???

[theprof]

Take a look here

[theprof]

Sorry about that. Try this:

http://www.rics.org/Builtenvironment/Buildingmaterials/C ementitiousconcreteandmineralboundmaterials/frog_discuss ion210705.html

[delly0408]

Wow I didnt realise this was such a debate. Not sure which theory I go for lol

[theprof]

I couldn't agree more. There's something new to be learnt every day!!

[spacechimp]

how odd, I just learnt that it was called a frog yesterday.

[Toureman]

Wev will need someone really inteligent to answer this question, any one out there?

[lafrancaise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,- 67944,00.html

[theprof]

Toureman

On the contrary, it looks like a definitive answer to this question is impossible to obtain and a consensus opinion will be the best we can expect as there are so many different theories.

[Quizmonster]

Generally speaking, The Oxford English Dictionary (TOED) is the final arbiter as far as the etymology of English words is concerned. Let me tell you precisely what it says on this matter...

"6. Brickmaking (see quot)
1876 Sir E Becket 'Brick Building'
Making bricks with a hollow in one or both faces which I have heard absurdly called a frog."

Doesn't that 'absurdly' just crease you up? However, that is all the dictionary has to say on the matter. I think you can take it that - if the scholars at TOED have failed to come up with an acceptable explanation - it's highly unlikely that anyone else is going to. Accordingly, I should treat the 'folk etymology' offerings from the sources mentioned earlier with a pinch of salt, Delly.