QUOIN • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Quoin

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noun

Quoin n.

(Arch.) Originally, a solid exterior angle, as of a building; now, commonly, one of the selected pieces of material by which the corner is marked. Note: In stone, the quoins consist of blocks larger than those used in the rest of the building, and cut to dimension. In brickwork, quoins consist of groups or masses of brick laid together, and in a certain imitation of quoins of stone.

A wedgelike piece of stone, wood, metal, or other material, used for various purposes; as:

(a)

(Masonry) To support and steady a stone.

(b)

(Gun.) To support the breech of a cannon.

(c)

(Print.) To wedge or lock up a form within a chase.

(d)

(Naut.) To prevent casks from rolling.

Hollow quoin. See under Hollow.

Quoin post (Canals), the post of a lock gate which abuts against the wall.

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Etymology of 'Quoin'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Quoin" Quotes from Famous Books

... core—grey granite or sandstone coloured by manganese. The greater part of the old city was built of this alabaster-like[EN34] material. When new, it must have been a scene in fairy-land; Time has now degraded it to the appearance and the consistence of crumbling salt. The quoin-shaped hills of the foreground, all uptilted and cliffing to the north, show the curious mauve and red tints of the many-coloured clays called in the Brazil Taua. Even the palms are peculiar. Their tall, upright crests of lively green fronds, their ...

— The Land of Midian, Vol. 1 • Richard Burton

Words linked to "Quoin" : building, edifice, wedge, key, keystone, architecture, corner, coigne, coign