millstone

/mil"stohn'/, n.

1. either of a pair of circular stones between which grain or another substance is ground, as in a mill.

2. anything that grinds or crushes.

3. any heavy mental or emotional burden (often used in the phrase a millstone around one's neck).

[bef. 1050; ME milneston, OE mylenstan. See MILL¹, STONE]

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Either of two flat, round stones used for grinding grain to make flour.

The stationary bottom stone is carved with shallow grooved channels that radiate from the centre. The upper stone rotates horizontally, and has a central hole through which grain is poured. The channels of the bottom stone lead the grain onto the flat grinding section, called the land, and to the edge, where it emerges as flour. The best millstones are made from French buhrstone, quarried near Paris. In the U.S., quartz conglomerate, quartzite, sandstone, or granite is used. Stone-ground flour accounts for only a small proportion of milled flour today.

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 one of a pair of flat, round stones used for grinding grain. One millstone is stationary; the other rotates above it in a horizontal plane. Grain is poured through a hole in the centre of the rotating millstone, flowing into shallow grooves, called channels, which radiate from the centre of the stationary millstone. The channels lead the grain onto the flat grinding section, called the land, and to the edge, where it emerges as flour. Sharpening a millstone consists of recarving worn channels and checking and smoothing the land.

      The best millstones are made from French buhrstone, quarried near Paris. In the United States, where there is no buhrstone, quartz conglomerate, quartzite, sandstone, or granite is substituted.

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