grist-mill
Definition
Noun: - A mill for grinding grain: A "grist-mill" is a facility or machine that grinds grain, such as wheat or corn, into flour or meal. The term specifically refers to the milling process for "grist," which is grain that has been separated from its chaff and is ready to be ground.
Usage Examples
- (A building or machine that grinds grain into flour.)
- (A place where grain is ground for food production.)
Advanced Usage
"to run a grist-mill": to operate a facility that grinds grain.
- He inherited the family business and continues to run the grist-mill. (He manages the grain-grinding operation.)
"grist for the mill": a metaphorical phrase meaning something that is useful for a particular purpose, especially in argument or discussion (note: this is a related idiom, not a direct use of the compound word).
Variants and Related Words
Grist (n): grain that is to be ground.
- The miller stored the grist in large sacks. (The raw grain ready for milling.)
Mill (n): a machine or building for grinding grain.
- The water-powered mill was essential to the village. (A general term for a grinding facility.)
Synonyms
- Flour mill: a mill that specifically produces flour.
- Corn mill: a mill that grinds corn into meal.
- Grain mill: a general term for any facility that grinds grain.
Related Idioms
- Grist for someone's mill: something that can be used to one's advantage.
- The gossip was grist for the journalist's mill. (The information was useful for the journalist's work.)