n. [ See Carrion. ] Dead body; carrion. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A var. spelling of Coin, Quoin, a corner, wedge; -- chiefly used in the phrase coign of vantage, a position advantageous for action or observation. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

From some shielded nook or coign of vantage. The Century. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

The lithosphere would be depressed on four faces; . . . the four projecting coigns would stand up as continents. Nature. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. an expandable metal or wooden wedge used by printers to lock up a form within a chase.
Syn. -- quoin, coigne. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. the keystone of an arch.
Syn. -- quoin, coigne. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ See Coin, n. ] A quoin. [ 1913 Webster ]

See you yound coigne of the Capitol? yon corner stone? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. The practice of quartering one's self as landlord on a tenant; a quartering of one's self on anybody. [ Ireland ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OF. desloignier. See Eloign. ] To put at a distance; to remove. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Low-looking dales, disloigned from common gaze. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Eloigned p. pr. & vb. n. Eloigning. ] [ F. éloigner, OF. esloignier; pref. es- (L. ex) + OF. & F. loin far, far off, L. longe, fr. longus long. See Elongate. ] [ Written also eloin. ] 1. To remove afar off; to withdraw. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

From worldly cares he did himself eloign. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) To convey to a distance, or beyond the jurisdiction, or to conceal, as goods liable to distress. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sheriff may return that the goods or beasts are eloigned. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To remove. [ Obs. ] Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. éloignement. ] Removal to a distance; withdrawal. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ it>or }, n. [ OF. essoine, essoigne, F. exoine, L. essonia, exonia; pref. ex- (L. ex from) + sunnis, sunnia, sonia, hindrance, excuse. Cf. Icel. syn refusal, synja to deny, refuse, Goth. sunja truth, sunjōn to justify, OS. sunnea impediment, OHG. sunna. ] 1. (Eng. Law) An excuse for not appearing in court at the return of process; the allegation of an excuse to the court. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Excuse; exemption. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

From every work he challenged essoin. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Essoin day (Eng. Law), the first general return day of the term, on which the court sits to receive essoins. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. franc free + Norm. F. almoigne alma, for almosne, F. aumône. See Frank, a., and Almoner. ] (Eng. Law) A tenure by which a religious corporation holds lands given to them and their successors forever, usually on condition of praying for the soul of the donor and his heirs; -- called also tenure by free alms. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being poignant; as, the poignancy of satire; the poignancy of grief. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F., p. pr. of poindre to sting, fr. L. pungere to prick, sting. See Pungent. ] 1. Pricking; piercing; sharp; pungent. “His poignant spear.” Spenser. “Poynaunt sauce.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: Pointed; keen; satirical. [ 1913 Webster ]

His wit . . . became more lively and poignant. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a poignant manner. [ 1913 Webster ]