Coined in the 18th century in imitation of the Mason's Word, which restricted access to the lodges of

Stonemasons Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient shelters, temples, mo ...

and later

Freemasonry Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

, and followed by the

Horseman's Word The Horseman's Word, also known as the Society of Horsemen, is a fraternal secret society operating in Britain for those who work with horses. Established in north-eastern Scotland during the early nineteenth century, in ensuing decades it spread b ...

, the Miller's Word identified members of a trade

guild A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular area. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradesmen belonging to a professional association. They sometimes ...

formed to restrict entry into and control the profession of grain

milling Milling may refer to: * Milling (minting), forming narrow ridges around the edge of a coin * Milling (grinding), breaking solid materials into smaller pieces by grinding, crushing, or cutting in a mill * Milling (machining), a process of using rota ...

, as well as to protect its members' interests. Like the Masons Word, its foundation was local groups with initiations, passwords, and secret trade knowledge. The Miller's Word introduced an element of deliberate diabolism into its symbolism and ceremonies. Oaths sworn at its initiations apparently derive from oaths supposedly sworn by witches in making pacts with the devil. The word could allegedly set the workings of a mill into motion without the aid of human assistance.McAldowie, Alex. "Personal Experiences in Witchcraft" ''Folklore'', Vol. 7, No. 3. (Sep.,1896), pp. 309-314.

Notes

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References

* Hutton, Ronald. The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft. Oxford University Press, 2001. p62 * McAldowie, Alex. "Personal Experiences in Witchcraft" ''Folklore'', Vol. 7, No. 3. (Sep.,1896), pp. 309–314. Guilds