noun

quern

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Quern (noun) means a simple mill for grinding corn, especially a handmill made of two circular stones. Example: “The museum displays a stone quern found at the old farmstead.”

noun

A simple mill for grinding corn, especially a handmill made of two circular stones.

"The museum displays a stone quern found at the old farmstead."

"People once ground their grain by hand using a quern."

"The quern's upper stone was turned by hand to crush the corn."

How to use quern

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA quern is an old-fashioned hand-turned stone mill for grinding corn.

When to use it

Quern is mostly used in historical, archaeological or rural contexts today.

Memory tip

Think of a quern as two stones stacked together, with the top one turned by hand to crush grain.

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Common pairings

stone quern turn a quern grind grain with a quern quernstone

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “quern” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The museum displays a stone _____ found at the old farmstead.

Etymology

Quern comes from Middle English quern, itself from Old English cweorn, meaning a quern or hand-mill. This traces back further through Proto-Germanic to an ancient root meaning heavy stone.

Origin: Old English

Frequently asked questions

What is a quern used for?

A quern is used to grind corn or grain by hand, usually by turning one stone against another.

How old is a quern?

Querns are an ancient type of handmill, and stone examples are often found at archaeological sites.

How does a quern work?

Grain is placed between two circular stones, and the upper stone is turned by hand so it crushes the grain against the lower stone.

What is the meaning of quern?

"quern" (noun) means a simple mill for grinding corn, especially a handmill made of two circular stones.