Obs. [A corruption of BRICOLE, associated by popular etymology with the brick wall of the tennis court: ‘Musicke … which, tho’ Anaxias might conceiue was for his honour, yet indeede hee was but the Brick-wall to conuey it to the eares of the beloued Philoclea’ (Sidney, Arcadia, 283).]
= BRICOLE sb. 2. Also attrib.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Il à fait vne bricole, he hath plaied and made a Bricke-wall.
1611. Cotgr., Bricoler, to tosse, or strike a ball sideways; to give it a bricke wall (at Tennis).
1662. Sir A. Mervyn, Sp. Irish Affairs, 4. We come not to criminate, or to force a ball into the Dedan, but if any brick-wall expressions happen … it is rather a force upon us.
