Mill
/mɪl/noun
A machine or place for grinding grain, or more generally for processing materials.
Did you know?English mill comes from the same ancient root that gave Latin molere “to grind,” which also lies behind a whole family of words about crushing, milling, and flour-making across Europe.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mel-
“to grind, crush, or wear down”
Latin
Latin
molere
“to grind”
Late Latin
Latin
molinum
“a mill, grinding device”
Old English
OE
mylen
“mill, grinding stone”
Middle English
ME
mille
“a mill for grinding grain”
Modern English
English
mill
“a machine or building for grinding grain or processing materials”