Quern

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Quern \Quern\, n. [AS. cweorn, cwyrn; akin to D. kweern, OHG.
     quirn, Icel. kvern, Sw. qvarn, Dan. qu[ae]rn, Goth. qairnus
     (in asiluqa['i]rnus), Lith. q[`i]rnos, and perh. E. corn.]
     A mill for grinding grain, the upper stone of which was
     turned by hand; -- used before the invention of windmills and
     watermills. --Shak.


     [1913 Webster]
  
           They made him at the querne grind.       --Chaucer.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  quern
       n : a primitive stone mill for grinding corn by hand