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A Glossary of Windmill Terms A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y BEDSTONE the lower of a pair of millstones, which remains stationary BINS    [ picture ] Wooden boxes for holding the grain BIN FLOOR Floor of mill where the grain bins are situated BRAKE wooden or iron brake shoe encircling the brake wheel BRAKE WHEEL    [ picture ] the largest geer wheel, fixed on the windshaft. The brake contracts onto its wooden rim BRAN partly ground husk of grain BREAST front of a post mill BRIDGE    [ picture ] Runner stone at Spilsby Windmill, Lincs metal bar cemented into eye of runner stone to act as bearing for the top of the spindle BUCK The body of a post mill CANISTER see Poll End CANT POSTS corner posts of a mill CAP The revolving top of a tower or smock mill CENTRE or MAIN POST    [ picture ] Remains of Smarden post mill The large central post which supports a post mill CHAIN WHEEL   [ picture ] wheel turned by means of an endless chain. For winding the mill or for working striking gear. CILL low stone or brick wall COGS   [ picture ] wooden cogs on the great spur wheel the wooden teeth (usually Applewood or hornbeam) inserted into cast gear wheel to drive mill machinery COMMON SAILS sails with a wooden framework covered by canvas.         COMPOSITION STONE millstone made from cement and carborundum CURB   [ picture ] Curb exposed during 2002-3 renovations circular track at the top of the tower or smock mill on which the cap turns. DEAD CURB slips on pads of metal LIVE CURB carries cap on rollers CROSS multi-armed iron casting fixed to the end of the windshaft to carry the sails CROSSTREES horizontal timbers at right angles which support the centre post of a post mill EYE    [ picture ] Runner stone at Spilsby Windmill, Lincs hole in the centre of the runner stone through which grain passes into the middle of the two stones. FANTAIL   [ picture ] fan at rear of cap which automatically turns it to face the wind. FAN STAGING platform at the rear of the cap of a smock or tower mill to provide access to the fantail FEED SHOE guides grain from hopper into eye of stone. FLOUR DRESSER    [ picture ] machine for separating (white) flour from the rest of the meal. FRENCH BURR freshwater quartz stone from France used to mill wheat         FURROWS low part of pattern on the surface of millstones. GALLERY a platform around cap GOVERNORS    [ picture ] The governors are painted red part of the tentering gear, which adjusts the distance between the stones as the sails turn faster or slower. GREAT SPUR WHEEL    [ picture ] large gear wheel on the upright shaft driving the stone nuts LANDS high parts of pattern on the surfaces of millstones. LUFFING see winding MIDDLINGS heavy timbers to which the sails are fitted - also called stocks OVERDRIFT stones driven from above PATENT SAILS shuttered sails with self-regulating control gear to automatically adjust their speed PEAK STONE    [ picture ] millstone grit from the Peak District of Derbyshire used for grinding animal feeds         PETTICOAT downward extension of the cap to cover the top of the tower against the weather PIERS brick supports of a trestle. POLL END    [ picture ] cast iron socket at end of windshaft to hold the stocks POST MILL Mill in which the whole body is supported on and turns around a central post QUANT    [ picture ] four-sided shaft from stone nut to mace on overdriven stones. REEFING STAGE see staging ROLLER MILL mill using metal rollers in place of stones ROUNDHOUSE    [ picture ] Rolvenden Mill building around the trestle of a post mill to protect it and provide storage. RUNNER STONE top stone of a pair which is turned by the mill.         SHUTTERS    [ picture ] a series of hinged vanes in vertical rows in spring and patent sails SMOCK MILL Mill with wooden tower, often on a stone or brick base, with a revolving cap. SPIDER   [ picture ] metal coupling operating the shutters of Patent sails SPRING SAILS sails with shutters linked to a spring, the tension of which can be set manually so that the shutters will open and close according to wind strength. STAGING   [ picture ] a platform around the body of the mill STOCKS heavy timbers to which the sails are fitted - also called middlings STONE DRESSER    [ picture ] Henry Hicks dressing a stone a man whose profession it is to re-sharpen or dress millstones STONE FLOOR the floor of the mill where the millstones are situated STONE NUT    [ picture ] final gear at top of quant which drives the stones STRIKING GEAR mechanism to open and close the shutters on the sails SWEEPS term used in southeast of England to describe the sails         TAIL rear end of a post mill TAIL POLE    [ picture ] Rolvenden Mill long timber at the rear of a post mill or cap used to turn it manually TAIL WHEEL wheel mounted at rear of windshaft to drive a second set of stones TAIL WINDING when a wind catches the sails from the rear; a strong tail wind has been known to blow the cap off the tower TALTHUR small beam attached to tailpole of a post mill which when hooked to the ladder will lift it clear of the ground while the mill is being winded. TENTERING GEAR    [ picture ] device to make fine adjustments to the gap between the millstones to compensate for temporary fluctuations in windspeed TOWER MILL Mill with a brick tower and revolving cap TRESTLE    [ picture ] Remains of Smarden post mill wooden substructure of a post mill supporting the main post.         TUN CASE see VAT UNDERDRIFT stones driven from beneath VANES    [ picture ] blades of a fantail. VAT    [ picture ] Vat containing French burr stones at Union Mill removable wooden case enclosing millstones. WALLOWER    [ picture ] Steel wallower with wooden friction drive for sack hoist horizontal gearwheel at top of upright shaft taking drive directly from the brake wheel WHIP the backbone of a sail or sweep WINDBOARD wide board replacing the shutters on inner half of leading edge of sails WINDING process of turning sails into the eye of the wind WINDSHAFT   [ picture ] main axle of iron or wood that carries the sails and brake wheel Y-WHEEL wheel with metal Ys around circumference to increase grip of chain.