quoin

1 of 2

noun

ˈkȯin  ˈkwȯin 

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

• 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

The sprawling home, designed by Paul Marchese, a former chief architect of the original World Trade Center, features classical elements such as decorative quoins, a portico entry, and roof balusters. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024

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

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

Rhymes for quoin

• adjoin
• benzoin
• bitcoin
• conjoin
• enjoin
• fibroin
• rejoin
• sirloin
• subjoin
• coin
• coyne
• groin