quern

noun

ˈkwərn

: a primitive hand mill for grinding grain

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English cweorn; akin to Old High German quirn hand mill, Old Church Slavic žrŭny

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of quern was before the 12th century

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Browse Nearby Words

querl

quern

quernstone

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Quern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quern. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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