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