Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
quoin [koin, kwoin] ExamplesWord Origin noun
- an external solid angle of a wall or the like.
- one of the stones forming it; cornerstone.
- any of various bricks of standard shape for forming corners of brick walls or the like.
- a wedge-shaped piece of wood, stone, or other material, used for any of various purposes.
- Printing. a wedge of wood or metal for securing type in a chase.
verb (used with object)
- to provide with quoins, as a corner of a wall.
- to secure or raise with a quoin or wedge.
Also coign, coigne. Origin of quoin First recorded in 1525–35; variant of coin Related Words for quoins wedge, angle, cornerstone Examples from the Web for quoins Historical Examples of quoins
This is held in place by pushing in a few wooden wedges or quoins.
A. A. Stewart
Above the piece of wall which occurs between the older and newer work, the quoins of the aisleless church remain entire.
The Ground Plan of the English Parish Church
A. Hamilton Thompson
The uppermost stage is chamfered at the quoins, leaving a small off-set at the level of the next.
Bell’s Cathedrals: Southwark Cathedral
George Worley
But the most useful mortar, of course, had trunnions and adjustable elevation by means of quoins.
Albert Manucy
Frequently the quoins and jambs are executed in ashlar, which gives a neat and finished appearance and adds strength to the work.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 7
Various
British Dictionary definitions for quoins quoin coign or coigne noun
- an external corner of a wall
- Also called: cornerstone a stone forming the external corner of a wall
- another name for keystone (def. 1)
- printing a metal or wooden wedge or an expanding mechanical device used to lock type up in a chase
- a wedge used for any of various other purposes, such as (formerly) to adjust elevation in muzzle-loading cannon
Word Origin for quoin C16: variant of coin (corner) Word Origin and History for quoins quoin n.
1530s, “a cornerstone,” variant spelling of coin (n.); in early use also in other senses of that word, including “a wedge.”