mühle

Mühle is a German noun meaning mill, a building or device used to grind grain or crush seeds. The word derives from Old High German and related Germanic roots and is cognate with similar terms in neighboring languages. The term covers several types, most commonly windmühle (windmill), wassermühle (water mill), and handmühle (hand mill); Ölmühle refers to an oil mill used to press seeds, olives, or other oil-bearing material.

A typical mill comprises a fixed frame, a rotating shaft, and grinding or pressing equipment. In grain mills, two circular stones grind kernels between a bedstone and a turning runner stone; in oil mills, presses or crushers extract oil from seeds. Mills are often powered by wind or flowing water; water mills use a water wheel to convert hydraulic energy, while windmills use sails or vanes to catch the wind.

Historically, mills were central to agricultural economies in Europe and beyond. Access to reliable milling capacity enabled greater food production, supported urban growth, and shaped transport and trade. In many regions, mills were located along rivers or coastlines and could be subject to local rights or tolls, reflecting their economic importance.

Today, Mühle also appears in place names and as a surname in some contexts. In contemporary usage, historic mills survive as cultural monuments, museums, or are repurposed for artisanal production of flour, oil, and other products.