- coign
- coign archaic spelling of QUOIN (Cf. quoin) (q.v.), surviving only in Shakespeare's coign of vantage ("Macbeth" I.vi.), popularized by Sir Walter Scott, properly "a projecting corner" (for observation).
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
coign
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Coign — (koin), n. A var. spelling of {Coin}, {Quoin}, a corner, wedge; chiefly used in the phrase coign of vantage, a position advantageous for action or observation. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] From some shielded nook or coign of vantage. The Century.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
coign — noun /kɔɪn/ a) A projecting corner or angle. , 1922, Kind air defined the coigns of houses in Kildare street. James Joyce, Ulysses b) A wedge used in typesetting , 1936, this snug monastic coign, this dreamy and heatless alcove of what we call… … Wiktionary
coign — [kɔɪn] noun a projecting corner or angle of a wall. Phrases coign of vantage literary a favourable position for observation or action. Origin ME: var. of coin … English new terms dictionary
coign — /kɔɪn/ (say koyn) noun Also, coigne. 1. → quoin. –phrase 2. coign of vantage, a good place from which to observe events. {variant of coin (def. 3) …
coign — n. Phrases and idioms: coign of vantage a favourable position for observation or action. Etymology: earlier spelling of COIN in the sense cornerstone … Useful english dictionary
coign of vantage — [koin] n. [coign, archaic var. of coin(QUOIN)] an advantageous position for observation or action … English World dictionary
coign of vantage — coign′ of van′tage [[t]kɔɪn[/t]] n. a favorable position • Etymology: 1595–1605 … From formal English to slang
coign of vantage — a position advantageous for action or observation from the coign of vantage which the present age affords … we will … retell the history of Christianity K.S.Latourette * * * a good position for observation, judgment, criticism, action, etc. [1595 … Useful english dictionary
coign of vantage — Etymology: coign, earlier spelling of 1coin (corner) Date: 1605 an advantageous position … New Collegiate Dictionary
coign of vantage — literary a favourable position for observation or action. → coign … English new terms dictionary
