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Coign (Noun)

The keystone of an arch.

Nouns denoting man-made objects.

The architect carefully placed the final stone, the coign, at the apex of the arch, securing the structure's balance.
In ancient Roman construction, the coign was often decorated with intricate carvings to emphasize its importance.
The stress on the coign was immense, as it was the central wedge that held the arch together.
The builder's apprentice nervously watched as the master mason set the coign in place, the final piece of the vaulted ceiling.
At the center of the grand entranceway, a massive coign rose high above the other stones, anchoring the arch's sweeping curve.

Expandable metal or wooden wedge used by printers to lock up a form within a chase.

Nouns denoting man-made objects.

The printer carefully placed a coign in the corner of the chase to secure the type form in position.
A selection of coigns in various thicknesses was stored on the side of the press for easy access.
The compositor adjusted the coign to fit snugly between the form and the chase, ensuring even pressure on the paper.
One of the apprentices was tasked with sharpening the coigns to maintain their effectiveness in holding type in place.
A misplaced coign had caused the type to shift during the previous print run, resulting in a batch of defective copies.