grinder
n.a machine or tool used to crush something into small pieces or powder. You might use one for coffee beans, pepper, or even metal.
n.a device or machine used for reducing a substance to small particles or powder through friction or crushing.
“I use a small grinder for my coffee beans every morning.”
“The construction worker used an angle grinder to cut through the thick steel pipes on the building site.”
“While pre-ground spices are convenient, using a manual grinder allows the volatile oils to remain intact until the moment of cooking, resulting in a much more intense flavor profile.”
Commonly appears in compound nouns such as 'coffee grinder', 'pepper grinder', or 'angle grinder'.
From Middle English grinder, grindere, from Old English grindere (“one or that which grinds; grinder”), equivalent to grind + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.