Worked earthily as a brick carrier out East (4)

I believe the answer is:

hoed

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'worked earthily' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'a brick carrier out east' is the wordplay.
'a brick carrier' becomes 'hod' (I've seen this before).
'out' indicates putting letters inside.
'east' becomes 'e' (synonyms).
'hod' placed around 'e' is 'HOED'.

'as' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hoed that I've seen before include "Tended to soil" , "Weeded" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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