hollow quoin

Hollow \Hol"low\, a. [OE. holow, holgh, holf, AS. holh a hollow,
   hole. Cf. {Hole}.]
   1. Having an empty space or cavity, natural or artificial,
      within a solid substance; not solid; excavated in the
      interior; as, a hollow tree; a hollow sphere.
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            Hollow with boards shalt thou make it. --Ex. xxvii.
                                                  8.
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   2. Depressed; concave; gaunt; sunken.
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            With hollow eye and wrinkled brow.    --Shak.
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   3. Reverberated from a cavity, or resembling such a sound;
      deep; muffled; as, a hollow roar. --Dryden.
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   4. Not sincere or faithful; false; deceitful; not sound; as,
      a hollow heart; a hollow friend. --Milton.
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   {Hollow newel} (Arch.), an opening in the center of a winding
      staircase in place of a newel post, the stairs being
      supported by the wall; an open newel; also, the
      stringpiece or rail winding around the well of such a
      staircase.

   {Hollow quoin} (Engin.), a pier of stone or brick made behind
      the lock gates of a canal, and containing a hollow or
      recess to receive the ends of the gates.

   {Hollow root}. (Bot.) See {Moschatel}.

   {Hollow square}. See {Square}.

   {Hollow ware}, hollow vessels; -- a trade name for cast-iron
      kitchen utensils, earthenware, etc.

   Syn: Syn.- Concave; sunken; low; vacant; empty; void; false;
        faithless; deceitful; treacherous.
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Quoin \Quoin\ (kwoin or koin; 277), n. [See {Coin}, and cf.
   {Coigne}.]
   1. (Arch.) Originally, a solid exterior angle, as of a
      building; now, commonly, one of the selected pieces of
      material by which the corner is marked.
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   Note: In stone, the quoins consist of blocks larger than
         those used in the rest of the building, and cut to
         dimension. In brickwork, quoins consist of groups or
         masses of brick laid together, and in a certain
         imitation of quoins of stone.
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   2. A wedgelike piece of stone, wood, metal, or other
      material, used for various purposes; as:
      (a) (Masonry) To support and steady a stone.
      (b) (Gun.) To support the breech of a cannon.
      (c) (Print.) To wedge or lock up a form within a chase.
      (d) (Naut.) To prevent casks from rolling.
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   {Hollow quoin}. See under {Hollow}.

   {Quoin post} (Canals), the post of a lock gate which abuts
      against the wall.
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