kvarn

Swedish

Alternative forms

• qvarn (obsolete since 1889)
• qwarn (obsolete)

Etymology

From Old Swedish kværn, kvarn, from Old Norse kvern, from Proto-Germanic *kwernō, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷerewn- (“millstone”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɑːɳ

Noun

kvarn c

1. mill; the grinding apparatus for substances such as grains, seeds, spices, coffee beans etc., or the building or object housing such a grinding apparatus.
2. (figurative) bureaucracy; administrative process
   • 2023 December 2, Richard Veldre, 00:44 from the start, in Sverige tar över norsk mark – Alvin, 7, sätter flaggan på plats [Sweden takes over Norwegian land – Alvin, 7, places the flag.]‎^[1], SVT Nyheter:

     Nu ska myndigheternas kvarnar mala färdigt. Lantmäteriet ska lämna sitt förslag till ändring på en ny svensk gräns till utrikesdepartementet som ska diskutera saken med sina norska kollegor innan man fattar ett beslut.

     Now the authorities' processes will grind to completion. The Swedish Mapping Authority will submit its proposal for a new Swedish border to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will discuss the matter with its Norwegian counterparts before making a decision.

     (literally, “Now the mills of the authorities shall grind to completion.”)

Declension

Declension of kvarn

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	kvarn	kvarns
	definite	kvarnen	kvarnens
plural	indefinite	kvarnar	kvarnars
	definite	kvarnarna	kvarnarnas

Derived terms

• grottekvarn
• kvarnsten
• kvarnvinge
• vattenkvarn
• väderkvarn

References

• kvarn in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• kvarn in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• kvarn in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)