quoin

English

Etymology

Variant of coin; compare coign.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kɔɪn/
• koin, /kOIn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophones: coin

• Rhymes: -ɔɪn

Noun

quoin (plural quoins)

1. Any of the corner building blocks of a building, usually larger or more ornate than the surrounding blocks.
2. The keystone of an arch.
3. A metal wedge which fits into the space between the type and the edge of a chase, and is tightened to fix the metal type in place.
4. (obsolete, nautical) A form of wedge used to prevent casks from moving

Synonyms

• (corner block of a building): cornerstone