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[edit]

1. ↑ U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration