Meaning & use
Quoin
Last updated
An external solid angle of a wall or building, especially one formed by a cornerstone.
See it in a sentence
The old stone quoins gave the cottage's corners a rugged, sturdy look.
Masons dressed each quoin separately so the corner would stand out from the plain wall.
A note on using this word
In letterpress printing, a "quoin" is also a wedge used to lock type into a chase, a related sense tied to the same root meaning "wedge" or "corner."
Words with a similar meaning
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Another way to use it
2. noun
A wedge-shaped device used to lock movable type into a printing frame.
The printer tightened the quoins until the type block held firm.
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