Definition

Noun: 1. (Architecture) A solid exterior angle of a building, especially one formed by a cornerstone or a distinct stone or brick used to form this corner. 2. (Architecture) The keystone or wedge-shaped stone at the crown of an arch. 3. (Printing) An expandable metal or wooden wedge used to lock type and other printing elements securely into a frame (called a chase).

Usage and Examples

• Architecture (Corner):
  • The old fortress was reinforced with massive stone quoins at each corner.
  • The architect specified brick quoins to add visual contrast to the stucco walls.
• Architecture (Keystone):
  • The Roman aqueduct's stability depended on the central quoin of each arch.
• Printing:
  • The typesetter tightened the quoins to ensure the form wouldn't shift during the press run.

Advanced Usage

• "To quoin up" (Printing, verb phrase): The act of securing type in a chase using quoins.
  • Before printing, you must carefully quoin up the form to prevent any movement.

Variants and Related Words

• Coign (noun): An archaic or poetic variant spelling of "quoin," often used in the phrase "coign of vantage" meaning a favorable position for observation.
• Cornerstone (noun): A stone forming the base of a corner, often ceremonially laid; can be synonymous with the architectural "quoin" and is more commonly used figuratively to mean a fundamental element.
• Keystone (noun): The central stone at the summit of an arch locking the others in place; synonymous with the second architectural definition of "quoin."

Synonyms

• For architecture (corner): Cornerstone, angle stone.
• For architecture (arch): Keystone, headstone, capstone.
• For printing: Wedge, locking device.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Coign of vantage: A position that provides a good or strategic viewpoint.
  • From his office on the top floor, he had a coign of vantage over the entire city.

Noun

1. (architecture) solid exterior angle of a building; especially one formed by a cornerstone
2. the keystone of an arch
3. expandable metal or wooden wedge used by printers to lock up a form within a chase