See Also: windmill(medicine)
windmill(dictionary)
windmill(encyclopedia)
windmill(dictionary)
Windmill Hill(dictionary)
Windmill - Motor Sports(gambling)

windmill (iou)



windmill noun & verb. ME.
[from WIND noun1 + MILL noun1.]
A. noun.
1. A mill for grinding corn etc. having machinery driven by the action of the wind on its sails; a similar structure used for drawing water or generating electricity. ME.
fight windmills = tilt at windmills below. throw one's cap over the windmill act recklessly or unconventionally. tilt at windmills [from a story in Don Quixote] attack an imaginary enemy or wrong.
2. A figure of a windmill; a sign or character resembling this, as a cross or asterisk. Now rare or obsolete. LME.
3. A model of a windmill; a toy consisting of curved vanes attached to a stick so as to revolve in the wind like the sails of a windmill. M16.
b. Cricket. A style of bowling with a high overarm delivery. Now rare or obsolete. M19.
4. fig. A fanciful notion; a visionary scheme or project. E17-M18.
5. An airscrew or propeller, esp. one for an autogiro. Now Hist. M20.
Comb.: windmill aeroplane = AUTOGIRO; windmill grass an Australian grass, Chloris truncata, with horizontal or reflexed digitately arranged spikes; windmill plane = windmill aeroplane above; windmill plant = TELEGRAPH plant.
B. verb.
1. verb intrans. Turn or change like a windmill. Only in L17.
2. verb trans. & intrans. Whirl or fling (one's limbs) around in a manner suggestive of a windmill. E20.
D. R. Koontz He windmilled his arms in a brief attempt to keep his balance.
3. verb intrans. Aeronautics. Of a propeller or rotor: spin unpowered. Also (foll. by down), descend with the rotor etc. spinning. M20.
windmiller noun the keeper of a windmill E16.
windmill-like [-l-l-] adjective resembling (that of) a windmill M19.