"
Quoin" or "
coin" refers to a slightly projecting, sometimes rough-finished 
masonry on the corners of buildings. Architects and builders use 
quoins to give the impression of strength and firmness to the outline of a building.  Rough-finished or 
rusticated masonry[?] is also frequently used for foundation layers of buildings to give the same impression.  Quoinage can be carried out in stone on a stone building, with stone on a predominantly 
brick building, or by laying brick masonry to give the appearance of blocks at the corner.
See Architecture.
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