coign of vantage

American  

noun

1. a good position for observation, judgment, criticism, action, etc.

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coign of vantage British  

noun

1. an advantageous position or stance for observation or action

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Etymology

Origin of coign of vantage

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coign of vantage

The trunk of the leaning birch, so slender that his arms and legs could clasp it, had given him access to this coign of vantage and now offered a retreat from it.

From A Hero of Ticonderoga by Robinson, Rowland E.

She pirouetted up to the front of his box pretty often during the evening, and several times hurled ancient wheezes at the riotous funnymen from that coign of vantage.

From The King of Schnorrers Grotesques and Fantasies by Zangwill, Israel

Helston had slid down from his coign of vantage, and now deliberately walked forth into the open.

From The Heath Hover Mystery by Mitford, Bertram

The excitement was intense among the passengers, who thronged the bulwarks at every coign of vantage, eagerly scanning the dark, silent sea.

From The Red Derelict by Mitford, Bertram

But Mr Chute had by this time fastened the shutter, and had descended from his coign of vantage, looking very red and feeling terribly mortified at having been detected.

From The New Mistress A Tale by Fenn, George Manville