Last modified on June 24, 2016, at 14:32

Quoin

A timber quoin
The quoin used in naval gunnery
Architectural quoins
A printer's quoin

A quoin is a wedge shaped item used to support or anchor other items.

  • In shipping terms it refers to a timber block used to secure barrels against movement.[1] Historically, the same item was used at the breech end of a cannon to raise or lower the weapon's trajectory.
  • Quoins in architecture are the corner stones which anchor the edge of the building wall.
  • Quoins are also wedges used by printers to hold the hand-set type in place.


References

  1. U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration