A millrind or simply rind is an iron support, usually four-armed or

cross A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a s ...

-shaped, for the upper ("runner") stone in a pair of

millstone Millstones or mill stones are stones used in gristmills, for grinding wheat or other grains. They are sometimes referred to as grindstones or grinding stones. Millstones come in pairs: a wikt:convex, convex stationary base known as the ''be ...

s. The rind is affixed to the top of the square-section main shaft or spindle and supports the entire weight of the runner stone, which can be as much as several tons. The face of a runner stone usually has a carved depression, called the "Spanish cross", to accommodate the millrind. The rind is necessary because the grain is fed through the runner stone's central hole, so the spindle cannot be inserted through it like a cartwheel on an axle.

Mechanism

A later refinement, replacing the cross, was to mount a ''mace'' onto the spindle, which fitted into a

gimbal A gimbal is a pivoted support that permits rotation of an object about an axis. A set of three gimbals, one mounted on the other with orthogonal pivot axes, may be used to allow an object mounted on the innermost gimbal to remain independent of ...

let into the runner stone. The device allowed the runner stone to move in two planes and thus follow the nether (stationary) stone more closely, but great care had to be taken to ensure that its weight was properly balanced. The separation of the nether stone from the runner, controlling the fineness of the grind, was adjusted by the ''tenter'' mechanism: a

screw jack A jackscrew, or screw jack, is a type of jack that is operated by turning a leadscrew. It is commonly used to lift moderately and heavy weights, such as vehicles; to raise and lower the horizontal stabilizers of aircraft; and as adjustable supp ...

to raise or lower the bearing carrying the base of spindle.

In heraldry

The millrind occasionally appears as a

charge Charge or charged may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * '' Charge, Zero Emissions/Maximum Speed'', a 2011 documentary Music * ''Charge'' (David Ford album) * ''Charge'' (Machel Montano album) * ''Charge!!'', an album by The Aqu ...

heraldry Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, rank and pedigree. Armory, the best-known bran ...

, in which it is often known by the French name ''fer-de-moline'' ("iron of a mill"). Like real millrinds, the fer-de-moline is highly variable in form. The 16th century writer Bossewell characterized it as a symbol fit for judges and magistrates, who keep men on a straight course just as a millrind does with a runner stone. However it is more often found in

canting arms Canting arms are heraldic bearings that represent the bearer's name (or, less often, some attribute or function) in a visual pun or rebus. French heralds used the term (), as they would sound out the name of the armiger. Many armorial all ...

of families with names such as Miller, Milne and Mills and Turner, Turnor and Turnour. Another charge based on the millrind is the

cross moline The cross moline (also cross anchory, French ''croix ancrée'' "anchor cross") is a Christian cross, constituting a kind of heraldic cross. History The name derives from its shape, which resembles a millrind, the iron clamp of the upper millsto ...

, which takes the form of a cross with bifurcated ends (sometimes with a pierced centre and sometimes without). In early blazons the term ''fer-de-moline'' often refers to the cross moline.

Gallery

File:Molen Werklust, Oene maalkoppel rijnen centreermal.jpg, Various millrinds and other mill equipment File:Doesburgermolen molensteen met viertaksrijn.jpg, A millstone and rind at the

Doesburgermolen The Doesburgermolen is a post mill in the hamlet of Doesburgerbuurt in the community of Ede, Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name ...

Ede, Netherlands Ede () is a municipality and a town in the centre of the Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland. Ede had 119,186 inhabitants. Population centres Community: * Bennekom * De Klomp * Deelen * Ede (town) * Ederveen * Harskamp * Hoenderloo ...

File:A rind on a miller's tomb, Stobo Kirk.JPG, A rind on an early tombstone in

Stobo Kirk Stobo Kirk is an ancient church of the Church of Scotland. It is dedicated to St Mungo and is situated near the B712 off the A72 just 6 miles south-west of Peebles in the ancient county of Peeblesshire, now part of the Scottish Borders Council ...

, Peeblesshire File:SpeccotArms.PNG, The arms of Speccot, of Speccot, in the parish of Merton, Devon: ''Or, on a bend gules three millrinds argent'' File:MillstoneCrest.jpg, The helmet of John de Lisle, 2nd Baron Lisle (d.1355), as represented on his

Garter stall plate Garter stall plates are small enamelled brass plates located in St George's Chapel displaying the names and arms of the Knights of the Garter. Each knight is allotted a stall in St George's Chapel and the stall plate is affixed to his personal st ...

, with a millstone and rind as his crest File:Boothroyd Achievement.png, The arms of

Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd (born 8 October 1929) is a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for West Bromwich and West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000. From 1992 to 2000, she served as Speaker of the House of ...

, with two millrinds File:FerreArmsButleyPrioryGate.jpg, The

of Sir Guy Ferre (d.1323): ''A fer de moline over all a bendlet'', at

Butley Priory Butley Priory, sometimes called ''Butley Abbey'', was a religious house of Canons regular (Augustinians, Black canons) in Butley, Suffolk, dedicated to The Blessed Virgin Mary. It was founded in 1171 by Ranulf de Glanville (c. 1112-1190), Chief ...

, Suffolk File:JAGC Staff Corps Insignia.svg, A millrind forms the central part of the insignia of the

Judge Advocate General's Corps The Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, is the military justice branch or specialty of the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called ...

in the

U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...

References

{{Wiktionary, millrind Heraldic charges Grinding mills