moinhos

Moinhos, in Portuguese, refers to mills—structures and devices that use energy to convert materials into more useful forms, most often grinding grain into flour or pressing oil. The two historic types most commonly associated with the term are windmills (moinhos de vento) and watermills (moinhos de água).

Windmills operate by capturing wind with a rotating cap and sails or blades. The turning motion is transmitted through a gear train to millstones that grind grain or to drive other machinery. Watermills use a water wheel or turbine driven by flowing water to turn a shaft and millstones, enabling grinding, pulp processing, or other mechanical tasks.

Key components across types include millstones (a set of an upper and lower stone), a drive shaft, gears, and mechanisms to control the power source—such as adjustable sails on windmills or gates and sluices for watermills. The cap of a windmill can rotate to face the wind, while watermills rely on the controlled flow of water to regulate the grind.

Historically, moinhos were central to agricultural economies, enabling efficient processing of cereals, olives, and other products. They spread across Europe and the Mediterranean and contributed to local industries and rural livelihoods. With industrialization, many traditional moinhos were replaced by larger, faster mills, but numerous examples remain as cultural heritage. Today, surviving moinhos are often preserved as museums or attractions, highlighting technological and rural history, and the term also appears in place names and regional references within Lusophone areas.