quern Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a primitive stone mill for grinding corn by hand

WordNet

Quern noun
Etymology
AS. cweorn, cwyrn; akin to D. kweern, OHG. quirn, Icel. kvern, Sw. qvarn, Dan. quærn, Goth. qairnus (in asiluqaírnus), Lith. qìrnos, and perh. E. corn.
Definitions
  1. A mill for grinding grain, the upper stone of which was turned by hand; -- used before the invention of windmills and watermills. Shak.
    They made him at the querne grind. Chaucer.

Webster 1913