f., gen. kvernar, but the mod. form kvörn, gen. kvarnar; [Ulf. qairnus, Mark ix. 42; A. S. cwyrn; Old Engl. quern; O. H. G. quirn; Dan. kværn; Swed. quarn]:—a handmill; þar sat kona við kvern, Fms. vii. 233; ok und kvernum klaka, Ls. 44; era þat karls-ætt er á kvernum stendr, Hkv. 2. 2; bondwomen used to turn the handmills, and the turning of the quern was, as it still is in Icel., where every farm has its handmill, accompanied by singing a song, see esp. the Millsong in the Edda (Gróttasöngr), 78 sqq.

2. metaph. an eddy or whirlpool in a river is called kvern, agreeably to the legend popular among all ancient Teut. people of a wonder mill grinding salt at the bottom of the sea, such as the famous mill Grótti, in the old Danish story of king Frode, which ground gold and peace, and at last the sea salt.

COMPDS: kvernarauga, kverná, kvernberg, Kvernbítr, kvernfoss, kvernhús, kvernsteinn, kvernstæði.