quoin

American  

[koin, kwoin] / kɔɪn, kwɔɪn /

Also coign,

noun

1. an external solid angle of a wall or the like.

2. one of the stones forming it; cornerstone.

3. any of various bricks of standard shape for forming corners of brick walls or the like.

4. a wedge-shaped piece of wood, stone, or other material, used for any of various purposes.

5. Printing. a wedge of wood or metal for securing type in a chase.

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verb (used with object)

1. to provide with quoins, as a corner of a wall.

2. to secure or raise with a quoin or wedge.

quoin British  

/ kwɔɪn, kɔɪn /

noun

1. an external corner of a wall

2. Also called: cornerstone.  a stone forming the external corner of a wall

3. another name for keystone

4. printing a metal or wooden wedge or an expanding mechanical device used to lock type up in a chase

5. a wedge used for any of various other purposes, such as (formerly) to adjust elevation in muzzle-loading cannon

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Etymology

Origin of quoin

First recorded in 1525–35; variant of coin

Explanation

A quoin is an angle at the outside corner of a building. You can call the corner itself a quoin, or use the word for the special stones or bricks that reinforce corners of brick or stone buildings. You're most likely to come across the word quoin in a discussion of architecture, since it's a term that has to do with either the aesthetics or strength of a building. Some quoins are decorative features, providing variety and pattern to the corner where two exterior walls meet. Others have an important structural job, strengthening buildings by reinforcing the corners. Quoin was originally an alternative way to spell coin, and was used to mean "cornerstone" or "wedge."

Example Sentences

The order to adjust the quoin in great-gun exercise; to depress the muzzle to point at an object below the level, in contradistinction to elevate.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

The Handspikemen, if there is a quoin, free the quoin and lower the breech, the 2d Captain handling the quoin.

From Ordnance Instructions for the United States Navy. 1866. Fourth edition. by United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance

A very picturesque view was obtained of the Rocky Mountains, and we saw the entire outline of their peaked hills, table-land, and quoin shaped terminations.

From Narrative of a Second Expedition to the Shores of the Polar Sea by Franklin, John

"Run in the quoin, and, blast the brig, give her a point-blanker!" said the gruff old seaman, who was intrusted with a local authority over that particular piece.

From The Water-Witch or, the Skimmer of the Seas by Cooper, James Fenimore

The figure 8 represents what is called a quoin, and keeps the bolster in its place.

From My Days and Nights on the Battle-Field by Coffin, Charles Carleton