Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MILL, n.² [Sax. miln; W. melin; Ir. meile or muilean; Corn. melyn; Ann. mell or melin; Fr. moulin; L. mola; Gr. μυλη, μυλος; G. mühle; D. molen; Sw. möl; Dan. mölle; Sp. molino; mulino; Russ. melnitsa; Goth. malan, to grind, Ir. meilim, Fr. moudre, for mouldre, W. malu, Arm. mala or malein, Sp. moler, L. molo, G. mahlen, D. maalen, Sw. mäla, Dan. maler; Port. moêr, by contraction, Russ. melyu. It is not certain which is the original word, the noun or the verb; or whether both are from a prior radical sense. We observe that the elements of this word coincide with those of L. mel, honey, mollis, Eng. mellow, mild, mold, meal, W. mall, &c. all expressive of softness. Grinding is now breaking by friction or pressure, but not improbably grain was pulverized by beating or pounding before the use of the quern. If so, mill may coincide in origin with mallet. We observe that this word is in the languages of all the great European families, Celtic, Teutonic and Slavonic.]

1. A complicated engine or machine for grinding and reducing to fine particles, grain, fruit or other substance, or for performing other operations by means of wheels and a circular motion; as a grist-mill for grain; a coffee-mill; a cider-mill; a bark-mill. The original purpose of mills was to comminute grain for food, but the word mill is now extended to engines or machines moved by water, wind or steam, for carrying on many other operations. We have oil-mills, saw-mills, slitting-mills, bark-mills, fulling mills, &c.
2. The house or building that contains the machinery for grinding, &c.