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coigne

coigne

9.9
A small wedge used to hold type tightly in a printing frame
  • noun
  • /ˈkɔɪn/
  • Archaic
translation icon : cuña
  • The old pressroom still had a drawer full of wooden coignes.

Examples

  • He carefully tapped the coigne into position to hold the type firmly.

  • Without a coigne, the layout may shift during printing.

  • The printer used a coigne to secure the type.

  • Can you pass me the coigne from the drawer?

  • He carefully tapped the coigne into position to hold the type firmly.

  • The old pressroom still had a drawer full of wooden coignes.

  • Without a coigne, the layout may shift during printing.

Synonyms

quoin
vscoigne
  • Archaic
9.9

A metal or wooden wedge that locks printing type in place

has identical meaning but is spelled differently in writing
coign
vscoigne
  • Archaic
9.9

A small wedge used by printers to hold type tightly in place

has the same sense but uses a different spelling in print
cottar
vscoigne
  • UK
9.9

A small metal pin pushed through two parts to hold them together

is an adjustable wedge used specifically for locking printing forms rather than joining parts

How Secure

coigne
  • Archaic
9.9
clamp
92 3.3
chock
28 8.0
wedge
34 3.4
shim
2 8.2

Surface Forms

coigne singular
coignes plural

Etymology

Coigne comes from old words like cuneus and coin that mean 'wedge' and 'corner'. Think of a small wedge you tap in to hold things tight, which is exactly what a printer's coigne does to lock the type in place.