Distinguishing between a "foraine" brick and a regular brick.

The "foraine" brick stands as the traditional construction material employed in the Toulouse region (France) since at least the 11th century. Its nomenclature is believed to derive from the Latin "foraneus", signifying "which comes from elsewhere". This is because "foraine" bricks were initially produced in brickyards rather than directly on the construction site, rendering them of superior quality.

In the 19th century, the term in use was still "forane", not "foraine", a detail that supports the theory of a Latin origin.

Originally denoting the superior quality of these bricks, the term "foraine" has evolved into a generic descriptor for all bricks of this format from the Toulouse region. This explains why the literal translation "fairground brick" for the French term "brique foraine" appears inadequate and is not utilized in this context.

Derived from Roman brick, the "foraine" brick exhibits a width-to-length ratio of 2/3, as opposed to the 1/2 ratio found in regular bricks. This deviation hinders the formation of a consistent pattern with aligned vertical joints (bond). Consequently, architectural embellishments were predominantly crafted using bricks that were meticulously cut to fashion moldings, cornices, and other decorative elements.