quoin
/kɔɪn/
noun
- An external corner of a building, or a stone or brick that forms such a corner, often decorative.
- The old library had decorative quoins made of white stone at each corner.
- The mason carefully placed the quoin to ensure the corner was perfectly straight.
- Quoins are often a different color or texture from the rest of the wall.
- A wedge-shaped piece used for locking type in a printing press or for adjusting the position of something.
- In traditional printing, a quoin is hammered in to secure the type.
- The printer used a quoin to tighten the type in the frame.
- He inserted a wooden quoin under the cabinet to level it.
Synonyms
verb
- To secure or raise something using a wedge (quoin).
- You need to quoin the type firmly before printing.
- They quoined the heavy press to keep it from wobbling.
- The carpenter quoined the door frame to make it plumb.