Mill facts for kids

A mill is a word with many meanings! It can refer to a machine that grinds things, a type of factory, or even a board game. The word "mill" often makes us think of old machines that use wind or water power.

What is a Grinding Mill?

A grinding mill is a machine that crushes or grinds raw materials into smaller pieces or powder. Imagine a giant blender for rocks or grains! These machines often use heavy millstones to do the grinding.

Types of Grinding Mills

• A gristmill grinds grain, like wheat or corn, into flour. This flour is then used to make bread and other foods.
• A windmill uses the power of the wind to turn its blades, which then power the grinding stones.
• A watermill uses the flow of water to turn a large wheel, which also powers the grinding process.
• A horse mill was an older type of mill powered by animals, usually horses, walking in a circle.
• A treadwheel was powered by humans walking on a large wheel, much like a giant hamster wheel! This was an early form of what we now call a "treadmill."

Mills as Factories

The word "mill" can also mean a factory, which is a place where things are made. Long ago, many factories were called "mills" because they used watermills for power during the start of the Industrial Revolution. Today, we still use "mill" for certain types of factories:

Different Kinds of Factories

• A cotton mill is a factory where cotton is processed to make thread and fabric.
• A paper mill produces paper from wood pulp or recycled materials.
• A sawmill is a place where timber (logs) is cut into planks and beams for building.
• A steel mill manufactures steel, which is a very strong metal used in buildings, cars, and many other products.
• A sugar mill processes sugar beets or sugar cane to make different kinds of sugar.
• A huller (sometimes called a rice mill) is a machine that removes the outer husks from rice grains.

Other Types of Mills

• A Milling machine is a special tool used in workshops. It shapes metal or other materials by moving the material against a spinning cutter.
• A Stamp mill is a powerful machine that crushes ore (rock containing valuable minerals) into a fine powder. This makes it easier to get the minerals out.
• Nine Men's Morris is an old board game. In this game, a "mill" means you have three of your playing pieces in a row.
• A Windmill (breakdance move) is a cool power move in breakdancing where a dancer spins their body around on the floor.
• The Mill (post-production) is a company that creates amazing visual effects for movies and TV shows.

People Named Mill

Many interesting people have the last name Mill:

• Andy Mill is a famous American skier.
• Frank Mill is a German football (soccer) player who won the World Cup and an Olympic bronze medal.
• Harriet Taylor Mill was an important philosopher and writer.
• James Mill was a Scottish historian, economist, and philosopher.
• John Stuart Mill was a very influential thinker in the 19th century, known for his ideas on freedom and government.