Definitions

1. noun

A type of primitive or simple water-powered mill used for grinding grain or crushing ore, typically consisting of a vertical wheel driven by a stream or river.

“The old arrastre had been abandoned for decades, but its remains still stood near the riverbank.”

2. verb

To extract or process ore by crushing it with a primitive mill or waterwheel.

“Gold prospectors had to arrastre the ore to separate the gold from the other minerals.”