miller

From Middle English myllere, mellere, from earlier mylnere, possibly from an Old English *mylnere, from Proto-West Germanic *mulīnārī (“miller”), equivalent to mill +‎ -er; cf. also Late Latin molīnārius (“miller”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Muller, Dutch mulder, molenaar, German Low German Möller, German Müller, Müllner, Danish møller, Norwegian Bokmål møller, Norwegian Nynorsk mylnar, møllar, Swedish mjölnare, Icelandic mylnari.

Compare also Middle English milward, mulward (“miller”), from Old English mylenweard (“miller”, literally “mill-keeper”) (> English Millward (surname)).

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmɪlɚ/

  • Audio (US):

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• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmɪlə(ɹ)/
• Rhymes: -ɪlə(ɹ)

miller (plural millers)

1. A person who owns or operates a mill, especially a flourmill.
   • 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 160, about East Bergholt:

     Constable's father, a wealthy miller, operated the mill at Flatford, which still stands 1 mile south of the village.

3. (dated) A milling machine.
   • 1944 November and December, A Former Pupil, “Some Memories of Crewe Works—II”, in Railway Magazine, page 341:

     Besides the usual run of machines, planers, millers, automatics, centre lathes, cranes, etc., there were several power stations, the rolling mills for strip material and for 60 ft. rails, and all the steel furnaces with their complicated systems of flues. If variety is the spice of life, then there was plenty here.

4. Any of several moths that have powdery wings, especially Acronicta leporina and moths of the genus Agrotis.
5. A floury-smelling mushroom, Clitopilus prunulus.
6. (UK, naval slang, outdated) A rat.

• Rimell, remill