quern

American  

[kwurn] / kwɜrn /

noun

1. a primitive, hand-operated mill for grinding grain.

---

quern British  

/ kwɜːn /

noun

1. a stone hand mill for grinding corn

---

Etymology

Origin of quern

before 950; Middle English; Old English cweorn; akin to Old Norse kvern hand-mill

Example Sentences

"We have a quern stone for grinding flour for bread. We've got pottery and glass for eating and drinking" says Dr Andy Seaman.

From BBC • Dec. 31, 2025

Finding a quern stone in an expected spot raises the hairs on the back of his neck—“as if I had been communicating directly with the people who buried it”.

From Economist • Nov. 13, 2014

At first the Devil wouldn't hear of such a bargain, and chaffed and haggled with the man; but he stuck to what he said, and at last the Devil had to part with his quern.

From Folk Tales Every Child Should Know by Mabie, Hamilton Wright

The mola versatilis evidently referred to the revolving millstone or quern.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5 "Fleury, Claude" to "Foraker" by Various

But angels used to grind at the quern for Ciaran's sake on the day that was his.

From The Latin & Irish Lives of Ciaran Translations Of Christian Literature. Series V. Lives Of The Celtic Saints by MacAlister, R.A. Stewart