Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COIN, n.¹ [Fr. coin, a corner, a wedge; Arm. coign; Sp. esquina, a corner, and cuña, a wedge; Port. quina; L. cuneus; Gr. γωνια; Ir. cuinne; W. gaing,or cyn, a wedge. The pronunciation of this word, by our common people, is quine, or quoin, when applied to a wedging stone, in masonry. See the next word.]

1. A corner; a jutting point, as of a wall. – Shak. Rustic coins, stones jutting from a wall for new buildings to be joined to. – Bailey.
2. A wedge for raising or lowering a piece of ordnance. – Bailey.
3. A wedge or piece of wood to lay between casks on shipboard. – Bailey.