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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Miln, Mill, n. Also: milne, milln(e, millin, -yn, -en, myln(e, mylnne, mylln(e, myl(l)in(e, -yn(e, -en(e, -ane, mulne, meln; mil, mil(l)e, myl(l, myl(l)e, myil(l, mwyle, mell(e, meill. [ME. myln(e, mulne, mille, mylle, mulle, e.m.E. myllen, mill, OE. myln, mylen, myll.]

1. A corn-mill.Either a water- or a wind-mill: applied both to the building and to the machinery it contained.Also with defining terms as corn-, hors-, malt-, man-, mele-, water-, wind-myln etc., see these words.(a) a 1350 Facs. Nat. MSS. II. xix.
Venient ad molendinum [gl. miln] dictorum abbatis [etc.] 1450 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 135.
The quhilk [tenants] sal mak service to the lordis miln and smithy 1472 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 25.
Fermoraris of the milnys c1500 Rowll Cursing 25 (M).
In kill or milne 1566 Morison Dict. Decis. 8895.
Becaus ane miln requires ane speciall and severall sasine c1575 Balfour Pract. 493. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 35.
They may passe to anie milne a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 215, 237. 1640 Peebles Gleanings 251. 1661 Glasg. B. Rec. II. 474.
He is mitilet in the left hand throw ane occasioune of the mylnstone in the said millne 1697 Ib. IV. 255. 1699 Conv. Burghs IV. 293. 1706 Foulis Acc. Bk. 440.
3 yeirs rent and kains for the said milne(b) 1386 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 10.
In muris [etc.] … , in mylnis, in multris 1466 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 22. 1478 Binns P. MS. No. 17.
As to the brekin of the said myln the said Henry to … mak hir als gud [etc.] 1494 Acta Aud. 199/2.
The said fretennentis wer in vse tocum to the said mylnne with ther cornes and quhen thai ȝed to vtheris millis that thai pait him dry multer c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 147.
Ȝe gang With polkis to mylne and beggis baith meill and schilling 1516 Reg. Privy S. I. 429/2. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II. 250. 1558 Melrose Reg. Rec. III. 160.
Service of knaifschip of our abbay myllnis 1559–60 Treas. Acc. XI. 10. Ib. 18. 1558-66 Knox II. 57. Ib. 64. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 290. a1578 Pitsc. II. 170/8.
The Inglischmen bruntt the mylnes of Leytht 1583 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 306. 1587 Acts III. 460/1. 1589 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 136.
Ane sufficient gangand myln 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 174. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 250.
Every man wishes the water to his own mylne 1607 Rothiemay Kirk S. in J. Gordon's Hist. I. App. lii.
That the myln be stayit from grinding on the Saboth day 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 135.
All them quha … wilfully cuttes … cornes, breakes myllnes, or … felles oxen or horse 1643–4 Dumfries Treas. Acc. 6.
For theik to the mylne 1659 Irvine Mun. II. 81.
The inhabilitie of thair aun burrow mylnes aforsaids to serve the said sucken … throw the want of water(c) 1456 Peebles B. Rec. I. 115.
Andro Melnar has tan the meln of Peblis(d) 1427 Melville Chart. 245.
Multeryt at the said myllyn 1512 Yester Writs 112.
With the lands of Pleuchfeild the myline and pertinents thereof 1544 Stirling Chart. 381.
The half landis of Lany … with the millin Ib. 382.
Millyn 1555–6 Irons Leith II. 603.
Their mylenes 1569 Boyd Fam. P. No. 56 (21 June).
With service … to the … mylin with multir vsit and wont 1683 Cullen Kirk S. 29 Oct.
Milvert att the new millen of Cullen(e) 1423 Edinb. Chart. 55.
[To have th]air corne grundin at the saide millis Ib. 56. 1554 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. VII. 48.
For the teyndis of the saidis milles 1587 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I. 211.
Power to … big housses, dowcotis, miles 1649 Dumfries Treas. Acc. 28 (11 Nov.).
Payed … for … repairing the timber of the mile 1650 Brechin Presb. 41.
[She] said, The divell burn kill and mill befor she cam back again(f) 1402 Scone Indenture (Reg. H.).
Thair landis … with myll & multuris [etc.] 1434 Exch. R. IV. 598.
De mylis et parca de Travernent 1446 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 107.
To the girst of the said myl the twenteat cwrne 1478 Decr. Ld. Abernethy MS.
The landes of Balward with the myle of the samyne 1476 Peebles B. Rec. I. 176. 1492 Highland P. II. 193. 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II. 350.
[33s. 4d. of rent] of their sade half myllis 1520 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 57.
The commoun myll c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5538.
Two salbe in the myll grindyng 1554 Peebles B. Rec. I. 410. 1567 Lanark B. Rec. 37. 1660 Stitchill Baron Ct. 20.
Ane yron girthe for a mylle(g) c1420 Wynt. vi. 1153 (C).
A dyk, That nerehande a mwyle was made(h) 1482 Fam. Rose 147.
The new myil … on the water syde of Narne 1591 Lennox Mun. 332.
The landis of Balloche with the myill thereof(i) 1364 Rot. Sc. 883/2.
Thomas atte melle mercator de Scotia 1569–70 Haddington Treas. Acc. MS.
Thre dayes thekyng at the mell Ib.
To mend the brander of the west mell

b. In place-names, freq. (the) miln of A.(1) 1467 Acta Aud. 8/1.
Anent the abstractioune of the water … fra the mylne of Kynnabir 1478 Acta Conc. I. 12/1.
Herbert of Johnestoune has hewin and brokin the mylne of Kirkmichel 1493 Ib. 318/1.
The mylne of Johnestoune 1500 Ib. II. 429.
For the fermes of the myln of Cragneile 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 203.
The bigging of the myln of Glenbervy 1534 Bamff Chart. 64.
Ane mylne of Foyell callit the Scottismanis mylne alias the Ladill myll, the quhilk wes the proper mylne of Bamff 1591 Sutherland Bk. II. 174.
The milne of Wyndles, suckin, knaifschip, and astrikit multouris thairoff a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 204.
As I cam by the milne of Wobetydyow 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 131.
Thow being in the mekill milne of Esselmonthe, grinding sum meill 1602 Reg. Great S. 472/2.
(Falkland) 1613 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 25 Feb.
(Elwick) 1625 Justiciary Cases I. 25.
(Garvok) 1633 Misc. Spald. C. III. 71.
(Seggat) 1638 Aboyne Rec. 287.
(Glentannar) 1638 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 566.
(Partick) 1667 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 240.
(Ferryhill)(b) 1434 Liber Aberbr. II. 66.
The furde of the myl of Achskorry 1515 Edgerton Writs MS.
(Culles) 1519–20 Selkirk B. Ct. MS. 76 b.
(Billisheuch) 1608 Chron. Perth 12.
At the mil of Errol 1620 Grant Chart. 320.
(Abernethy)(2) 1497–8 Newbattle Coll. (Somerville).
My myle of Robertoune & crofte of the samyn 1524 Reg. Privy S. I. 497.
The Kingis myln of Malynnab 1552 Reg. Cupar A. II. 102.
To our corne meill of Keithik 1559 Reg. Great S. 74/1.
The ovir mylne of Tullielt 1587 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 438.
The abbay mylne of Deir within the wallis of the said abbay 1607 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 38. 1633 Reg. Great S. 154/2.
Lie nathertoun mylne de Balmerinoche(3) 1498 Reg. Privy S. I. 35/2. 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. i.
Flisk & Flisk myllane aprisit landis, milyne, toft, croft 1531 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 57.
Fra the Knok mylne viii thraiffis 1556 Peebles B. Rec. I. 231.
To tak the haill walter fra the Walk milne to the Rude milne 1566 Lennox Mun. 271.
The mylne callit the Aldawmill 1580 Treas. Acc. MS. 29.
At the Deane mylnis 1629 Justiciary Cases I. 134.
In ane ȝaird besyde Stratoun mylne 1641 Peebles B. Rec. I. 105.
The cornemylne callit the Rudemylne 1647 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 256.
For stowlling off Tryllin mill and making hir ane going wark 1649 Dumfries Treas. Acc. 41 (7 Oct.).
For thake to the Sambed mille 1665 Paisley B. Rec. 109.
Lie Seidhill mylnes … lie mylnehills(4) 1512 Selkirk B. Ct. MS. 19 b.
His tak … anent the wost myll 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 264.
For ane possing tre to the eist myln 1580 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. 132.
To the myln callit the Newmyln 1583–4 Rec. Earld. Orkney 159.
The said scatt dyk off Tolop that strikes out off the over mildam [v.r. overmylne dame] of Saba 1653 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 281.
At the new mylne of Partik(5) 1554–5 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 151.
For ane pair of new huppis to Mawars myln 1615 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I. 236.
At the Bishops mill c1650 Spalding I. 284.
At Kethokis milne Ib. II. 370.
And Tibberteis milne brynt wp

c. Attrib. d. Comb.

Mylfa, the water-fall of a mill, a mill-weir.c. (1) 1547 Hunter Fam. P. 25.
The landis callit mylne akyr [infra myle akyr] 1677 Galloway P. 12 Oct.
With the mill aiker — 1165–1214 Liber Melros I. 55.
Quo mulneburne cadit in Ar 1512 Selkirk B. Ct. MS. 17 b.
The milburne — 1565 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 570/2.
Lie mylncrag — 1226 Reg. Dunferm. 135.
Milnecroft 1428 Inchcolm Chart. 54.
Le mylne crofte 1438 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 113.
Et le millecroft 1540–1 Elgin Rec. I. 58.
In the breking of the dikes of the milln croft 1630 Edinb. B. Rec. VII. 74. 1671 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 102 (Apr.). — 1584 Melrose Reg. Rec. III. 317.
Betuix the mill and mill dene — 1515–6 Exch. R. XIV. 581.
Le Myllflat burgi de Hadingtoun — 1618 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 370.
The Kirkfurd wtherwayes milne furd — 1561 Dumfries B. Ct. 7 b.
In the herd of mylgait 1607 Inverurie B. Ct. 20 May.
The milgett — c 1200 Reg. Neubotle 68.
Ipsam vallem de Milnehalech Ib. 69.
Millynhalch 1580 Liber Dryburgh 311.
Terris vocatis Mylnhaught — a1500 Colk. Sow i. 169.
Mage of the milhill 1580 Exch. R. XXI. 97.
In lie Mylnhill predicti burgi [de Cupro] 1614 Reg. Great S. 420/1.
Cum crofta monticulo lie mylnhill — 1587 Acts III. 480/1.
The `lordschip … of Vchiltrie … with … the … milne milnelandis milne holme — 1628 Reg. Great S. 421/1.
Dowpe-mylne et lie mylne-pleuch ejusdem — 1583 Rec. Earld. Orkney 156.
Thrie mylne quoyis — 1567 Reg. Privy S. V. ii. 358/1.
Una pecia terre earundem terrarum vocata Mylnrig seu myln croftis(2) 1649 Dumfries Treas. Acc. 38 (29 June).
For wining of whine staines to the mill calle — 1554 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. VII. 49.
For ane myll clous byggyn in tymmar stayne wark and workmanschip 1574–5 Haddington Treas. Acc. 3.
To mak ane band to the myll clows 1621 Perth Kirk S. MS. 17 Oct.
The watter ran lyk myln cloussis … on the north syde of the hiegait — c1590 J. Stewart II. 226/8.
As from mylfa suift vater doune dois rout — 1649 Dumfries Treas. Acc. 39 (4 Aug.).
Payed also for thake to the mill gyle — 1643–4 Ib. 7.
For carying the timber out of the millhoill Ib. 19.
For calsaying the myln holl brig 1707 Laing Chart. 3036.
From the milndamhead to the milnhole miln — 1470 Yester Wr. 69.
Behynd the myln pot — 1604 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 39.
[She] tuke baith the mylne spout watter and the fluid watter — 14.. Acts I. 334/2.
At thai tak smoltis in the myll stank — 1607 Inverurie B. Ct. 14 May.
To cum … and big in the millwatter(3) 1574–5 Haddington Treas. Acc. 7.
viii garrane naillis to the myll ark 1646 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 213.
For cuting of the crayg for leuelling of the spoutis to the mill ark — 1576 (1581) Reg. Great S. 101/1.
In new schrouddis to be mylne aves — 1694 Stitchill Baron Ct. 112.
The mill axetries lying at Aikwood — 1600–2 Montrose Treas. Acc.
For mending the miln baskatt — 1552 Pluscarden Cart. (Jam. (1825) s.v. Claip).
Lie mylne claip and happer 1581 Prot. Bk. J. Scott MS. 112.
[By] delyuerance of the said miln clape and rynd and of erthe and stane of the saidis landis in hir handis 1622 Urie Baron Ct. 45.
To mell … with the milne clap and wptake the multers thairoff 1659 Stewart Mem. 135. — 1557 Glasgow Prot. II. 28.
[Sasine of the mill, by delivery of the] mylne crwik — 1574–5 Haddington Treas. Acc. 9.
Mending of the myll dys and putting ane ers of it — 1603 Crim. Trials II. 422.
[He] causit hir lay aine pairt thairof under the mylne dur and the rest under the stabill dur 1659 Stewart Mem. 135.
The miln dor of the said miln — 1625 Urie Baron Ct. 59.
To met all malt heirefter in the milne fluir befoir it be grund 1672 Stirling Common Good MS. 76 b.
Ane holl in the milne flour mead be the hors — 1600 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. 379.
For mending the mylnfute thre tymis — 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 261.
To ane wrycht for downe taking of the myln gawill 1626 Black Bk. Taymouth 383. — 1646 Edinb. Test. LXII. 86.
The haill secks [etc.] … with … all wther mylne graith 1660 Stitchill Baron Ct. 20.
The said girthe was on the stain as a pairt of the myll graithe — 1450 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 85.
His part of the brygyn of the myl hed — 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 71.
Ane pair of hois maid of ane auld myll hopper — 1486 Red Bk. Grandtully I. 170*.
The said myl irnys, and vther grath tharof 1536 Crim. Trials I. i. 179.
Stouthrief … of the mylne irnis and the mylne graithe 1598 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. (Reg. H.) 178 b.
For leying of the mill irnis 1600–2 Montrose Treas. Acc.
For the milnyrnis furth of Dundie — Ib.
For ane key to the myll laft — 1650 Brechin Presb. 19.
I took the mill leuder to strik her thair with — 1502 Acta Conc. MS. XII. .
Hewin axis, … sawis, myln pickis — 1478 Binns P. MS. No. 17 (21 Oct.).
The away takin of a myln rynde a myln spindil and a myln stane … out of the said myln 1559–60 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 306.
vij mell rendis and sevin spindillis … wer … put into the castell be feir of brekin with the Frenchemen — 1496 Prestwick B. Rec. 34.
ij d.for a myl spynyle laying — 1512 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 109.
The said Henry Martyne sall big … the said mylne stul 1574–5 Haddington Treas. Acc. 27.
Carying the myll stoll … to the myll hawch — 1674 Cunningham Diary 3.
The 20 peck mill thicking and mill stone leading — 1684 Corshill Baron Ct. 169.
They were hombringing ane milne tree to thair master — 1600–2 Montrose Treas. Acc.
For thrie firlottis smiddye coalis to the mill vark — 1645 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 141 b.
For dichting off tua mill wanes ffor hom ffeching off the mill stons — 1554 Liber Dryburgh 290.
The myll yett(4) 1662 Old Ross-shire II. 50 (see Milnknave n.).
Ane milne boy — 1590 Edinb. Test. XXII. 45.
Ane auld mylnel hors at the mylne of Pitroddie 1607 Ib. XLII. 255 b.
At the myln of Innerkething … tua mylne hors — 1695 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II. 596 (7 Sept.).
[John Wood to instruct John Selkrick in his miller or] mile wright [trade](5) 1614 Inverness Rec. II. 123.
Multures [etc.] … and mylne bonnack 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II. 262 (19 Apr.). — 1591–2 Glasgow Prot. XI.3.
[William Glen, baxter, gave sasine to Robert Glen, his son, of his twenty-sixth part, called] mylne day [of the wheat mill, commonly called the] Baxtaris Quheit Mylne [with all the multures, sequels etc.] — c 1639 Sc. Lore I. 162.
Be Williame Law for the mylne dewtyes — 1590–1 Ayr B. Acc. 168.
[95 merks] quhilk wes the miln ferme — 1496 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 71.
With the myln males as said 1505 Prestwick B. Rec. 38.
For his myll mall 1692 Conv. Burghs IV. 633.
The miln mealls —(a) 1563 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O.
His landis [etc.] … with the mylne and mylne multures of the samen 1563 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 145. 1613 Orkney Rentals App. 93.
For the mylne multer of the said parochin 1627 Brechin Test. IV. 271.
For ane boll tua pekis milne muttur malt -(b) 1595 Orkney Rentals ii. 14.
Summa of mill multure 1 last meal 1609 Inverurie B. Ct. 25 July.
The actione persewit … for milmultteris of the crop 1608 — 1676 Forbes Baron Ct. 304.
That in ewerie mylne … the mylne peck and the muttie … shall be sighted — 1674 Cunningham Diary 27.
Being a miller [he] pays nothing till the ordinary terme of mill rents, which is Lammas of the succeeding year — 1620 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 297.
To pey … the mylne seruice multurs knawschip — 1691 Foulis Acc. Bk. 133.
To pay kilne and milne silver for 12 bolls oats making in grots — 1518 Exch. R. XIV. 605.
Le milltak et corstak de Ketnis — 1651 Boyd Fam. P. No. 35 (5 May).
The inhabitantis of the ground therof to answer to myln and mylnwerk(6) 1588 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 27 May.
Remittand the handilling of the myll as pikke man thairof to hym self for the payment of ane myll swyne ȝerlle 1594 Reg. Great S. 245/2.
Reddendo … 12 capones, 12 lie pultrie et sufficientem lie mylne swyne 1603 Dunblane Test. III. 54 b.
Aucht geis … ane myln swyne 1610 Brechin Test. II. 100. 1622 Urie Baron Ct. 45. 1642 Orkney Rentals iv. 27. 1642 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 37. 1654–5 Fam. Innes 185.
5 mill swyne at 4 pounds — 1641 Galloway P. 11 June.
Tua dusone of capones and ane milngalt for the presents of the said milnes 1663 Ib. 5 March.(7) 1678 Cunningham Diary 15.
I sold to Alexr Millar his own millne meall 1677, at 3 lb. 13s. 4d. the bolld. 1492 Acta Conc. I. 231/2.
Ane chalder of aulde quhete clene dicht and myll dry 1654 Conv. Burghs III. 389.
The saidis baxteris to be milne free at all occasionis, they paying the ordinar dewis

e. A (hand-)mill, a quern.Also Hand-miln, -milstane. 1596 Dalr. I. 95/9.
Quhen it is winnowit thay grind it in a hand mil quhilke properlie we call the queirnis 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 146.
That na man sall haue bot twa pair of mylnes

2. Any machine or apparatus for grinding.Also, a container fitted with a simple grinding mechanism.Also with defining term, as pepper, sneezing, snuff: see these words. 1580 Edinb. Test. VIII. 208 b.
Ane pair of blak breikis, ane litill myln 1627 Ib. LIV. 115.
Ane mylne of grund spyce 1627 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III. 530.
Twa dussane … servits, ane tin mell 1647 Edinb. Test. LXIII. 66 b.
Ane glaisinwrycht mylne

3. Applied to other machines or buildings fitted with machinery in which some manufacture or manufacturing process is carried out. Also attrib.Espec. harnes-mill, Harnes n. 4 c, Pouder-, Saw-, Twining- and Walk-miln. 1570 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. XIII. 241.
To tak it [the cloth] to his [sc. fulling-] myle 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 138.
Repentance is likened to an ironmill that breaks the free-stone whereof the lime is made 1632 Edinb. B. Rec. VII. iii.
The hous [in St. Paul's Work] buildit with the kalander mylne 1687 New Mills Manuf. 159.
Ordered the makeing of a large twisting milne such as … shall serve for twisting of … chainesattrib. 1668 Dundee B. Laws 549.
Till agrie with ane mill master wpon Dichte water for a pirtigellier soum yerllie for thiking of his cloth

b. A smeltery for metal: also *Irne-miln n. c. The machine for the stamping of coins.Also justing mylne, Justing vbl. n.² 2. 1592 Mining Rec. 81.
Thomas Foulis … vith gryt expenssis hes biggit the coper mylne 1597 Acts IV. 155/1.
That thair salbe ane hundreth stane wecht of copper … wrocht and forget in ane mile and be the said mile maid reddie to the prenting 1609 Mining Rec. 142.
Money debursit … vpoun the building of the fyning and stamping mylnis at the loch of Linlithgow Ib. 154.
Expensis at the fyneing melting and stamp mylnis 1631 Stirling's Royal Lett. II. 542.
The goodis belonging to ws in our silver mylnes neir Lythgow 1636 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 54.
For coyning of the bulyeoun with greater expedition … by a milne nor by the hammer 1637 Ib. 56.
Full … licence … to work and coyne with the milne and presse the bulyeoun presentlie payable 1641 Ib. I. xxxi. 1663 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 450.
[The coins to be minted] to passe in lignetts thorow a milne [etc.] 1682 Edinb. City Archives Moses Bundle 254, No. 7741.
Severall tymes he stoped the mylne and complained upon the wairdens for letting the peices run below the remedy