Grindstane

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A circular stone wheel that rotates on an axle and is used to sharpen blades or grind grain into flour
2. A rotating abrasive stone disk employed for honing tools to a sharp edge or pulverizing grain
3. A stone wheel that spins to sharpen implements or mill grain into powder

Etymology: "Grindstane" is a northern and Scots spelling of "grindstone," a compound of the verb "grind" and "stane," the local form of "stone." Both parts go back to Old English: "grindan" meant to grind, and "stān" meant stone. Standard English changed the vowel of "stān" into the "stone" we use today, while Scots and northern dialects kept the older pronunciation, which is reflected in the spelling "stane."