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quoin

quoin [ kwoyn, koyn ] or coign [ koyn ]


noun  (plural quoins) (plural coigns)
Definition:
 
1. outer corner: the outer corner of a wall

2. block forming corner: a stone block used to form a quoin, especially when it is different, e.g. in size or material, from the other blocks or bricks in the wall

3. architecture 
Same as  keystone (sense 1)




transitive verb  (past and past participle quoined, present participle quoin·ing, 3rd person present singular quoins) (past and past participle coigned, present participle coign·ing, 3rd person present singular coigns)
Definition:
 
build corner with distinctive blocks: to build an outer corner of a wall using blocks that are different, e.g. in size or texture, from the other blocks or bricks used to build the wall

[Mid-16th century. Variant of coin]
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