Mills were a source of revenue for lords of the *manor. In *DB some 5,000 are listed but there is no indication of their age. The first were water-mills, dating perhaps to as early as the 8c. In many places, the mill's render to the lord was made up of the *ora, i.e. combinations of 16d. In fact, 2s 8d was not uncommon, while 8d, half one ora, is also found. Both Latin words molendinum and molinum were used for a mill; a miller = molendinarius. [< OldEngl. mylen < Lat. mola = millstone] -
Cf. Salt-pan
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.