Quoin (kwoin or koin; 277), n. [See Coin, and cf. Coigne.] 1. (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.
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.
2. 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.
Quoit (kwoit or koit), n. [OE. coite; cf. OF. coitier to spur, press,
(assumed) LL. coctare, fr. L. coquere, coctum, to cook, burn, vex,
harass, E. cook, also W. coeten a quoit.] 1. (a) A flattened
ring-shaped piece of iron, to be pitched at a fixed object in play;
hence, any heavy flat missile used for the same purpose, as a stone,
piece of iron, etc. (b) pl. A game played with quoits. Shak.