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coign

 - 6 dictionary results

coign

  [koin]
Use coign in a Sentence
–noun, verb (used with object)
quoin.

quoin

  [koin, kwoin]
–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.
–verb (used with object)
6. to provide with quoins, as a corner of a wall.
7. to secure or raise with a quoin or wedge.
Also, coign, coigne.

Origin:
1525–35; var. of coin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To coign
coign   (koin, kwoin)   
n.   & v.
Variant of quoin.
quoin also coign   (koin, kwoin)   


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n.  

    1. An exterior angle of a wall or other piece of masonry.

    2. Any of the stones used in forming such an angle, often being of large size and dressed or arranged so as to form a decorative contrast with the adjoining walls.

  2. A keystone.

  3. Printing A wedge-shaped block used to lock type in a chase.

  4. A wedge used to raise the level of a gun.

tr.v.   quoined also coigned, quoin·ing also coign·ing, quoins also coigns
To provide, secure, or raise with a quoin or quoins.

[Variant of coin.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

quoin 
1532, "a cornerstone," variant of coin (q.v.), originally in other senses of that word, too, including "a wedge."

coign 
archaic spelling of quoin (q.v.), surviving only in Shakespeare's coign of vantage ("Macbeth" I. vi.), popularized by Sir Walter Scott, properly "a projecting corner" (for observation).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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