millstone

English

/ˈmɪlstəʊn/, /ˈmɪlˌstoʊn/

noun
Definitions
  • A large round stone used for grinding grain.
  • (geology) A coarse-grained sandstone used for making such stones; millstone grit.
  • (figurative) Often in a millstone round one's neck (referring to Matthew 18:6 in the Bible): a heavy responsibility that is difficult to bear.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English mylnston inherited from Old English mylenstān (millstone) affix from English mill + English stone derived from Proto-Germanic *malaną (grind, grindVerb) derived from Proto-Indo-European *melh₂- (grind, crush, dark color, rub, mill, beat, break up, black, pound) derived from Proto-Germanic *stainaz (stone) derived from Proto-Indo-European *steyh₂- (stiffen, something hard, thicken).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*steyh₂-

Gloss

stiffen, something hard, thicken

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms