quoin

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a solid exterior angle (as of a building)
b
: one of the members (such as a block) forming a quoin and usually differentiated from the adjoining walls by material, texture, color, size, or projection
2
: the keystone or a voussoir of an arch
3
: a wooden or expandable metal block used by printers to lock up a form within a chase

Illustration of quoin

Illustration of quoin
  • quoin 1b

quoin

2 of 2

verb

quoined; quoining; quoins

transitive verb

1
: to equip (a type form) with quoins
2
: to provide with quoins
quoined walls

Examples of quoin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Embedded into a wall that juts out on the right side and boasts a quoin corner is an electric fireplace with a stained walnut mantel and a faux marble surround, a comfort feature unexpected in a house of this size. John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Jan. 2023 The living room features an electric fireplace and quoin corners. John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Jan. 2023 Lancet windows punctuate the stone exterior, which is embellished with quoin corners, while bringing light into the white-walled rooms. Lauren Beale, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2021 Hempel came up with a quoin — an expandable metal gadget that could hold the type into a form with greater ease — and patented it, which seems to have given him the wherewithal to head south. Joy Wallace Dickinson, orlandosentinel.com, 15 Nov. 2020 Classic Jacobethan Revival features outside include a two-story turret with a conical roof, five fluted chimneys and contrasting stone quoins accenting corners. Janet Eastman, OregonLive.com, 18 May 2018 The locks were shut down on Jan. 15 and underwent several repairs while closed, including the replacement of gate anchors, miter blocks, quoin blocks and cylinder seals. Omar Abdel-Baqui, Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 2018 Marble from a house that was razed to make way for the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art was repurposed as quoin (corner) work, arches and corbels. Cynthia Billhartz Gregorian, kansascity.com, 28 Apr. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quoin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of coin entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of quoin was in 1532

Dictionary Entries Near quoin

Cite this Entry

“Quoin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quoin. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on quoin

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!