English

Noun

brickfielder ‎(plural brickfielders)

1. (Australia) A hot, dry, dusty wind of southern or central Australia.
   • 1845, J. O. Balfour, A Sketch of New South Wales, page 5,

     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 brickfielder.

   • 1914, Henry Mills Alden, Thomas Bucklin Wells, Harper's Magazine, Volume 129, page 508,

     A southerly buster would blow — a Sydney brickfielder; […] .

   • 1986, Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, Volume 106, Issues 1-4, page 60,

     Then he had to concentrate his efforts on a smooth descent through the swirling gusts of the brickfielder.

   • 2005, Ajay Kumar Ghosh, Dictionary of Geography, page 45,

     Hot spells many days in duration, with temperatures daily exceeding 100°F. (38°C), often take place while the brickfielder blows.

Usage notes

The described nature of the brickfielder appears to vary by location, and perhaps has changed over time.

References

1. ↑ 1999, Graham Seal, The Lingo: Listening to Australian English, University of New South Wales Press, ISBN 086840-680-5, page 25.