brickbat

Etymology

brick +‎ bat. See bat (“part of a brick with one whole end”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈbɹɪk.bæt/

Noun

brickbat (plural brickbats)

1. A piece of brick used as a weapon, especially if thrown, or placed in something like a sock and used as a club.
   • 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter III:

     No doubt he, like me, had been buoying himself up for years with the thought that we should never meet again and that, whatever brickbats life might have in store for him, he had at least got Bertram out of his system. A nasty jar it must have been for the poor bloke having me suddenly pop up from a trap like this.

2. A criticism or uncomplimentary remark.
   • 1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, book 4, chapter VIII, The Didactic

     Not honoured, hardly even envied; only fools and the flunkey-species so much as envy me. I am conspicuous, — as a mark for curses and brickbats. What good is it?

3. A section of a publication containing criticism.

   For example, it's quite common for magazines to have a section called Bouquets and Brickbats for compliments and criticisms. See for example: Reason Magazine: Daily Brickbat