A hard, porous type of rock or millstone used for grinding grain, also spelled 'buhr stone' or 'burr stone,' known for its rough surface.
From Middle English, likely from Old French 'burre' (rough, prickly) combined with 'stone.' The term may also relate to 'buhr,' a Germanic word for a type of stone used in mills.
Burstone was the gold standard for millstones because its natural pores trapped grain particles differently than smooth stone, making it grind flour more evenly—medieval millers knew which stones made the best bread!
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