millstone

[mil-stohn] /ˈmɪlˌstoʊn/

noun

either of a pair of circular stones between which grain or another substance is ground, as in a mill.

anything that grinds or crushes.

any heavy mental or emotional burden (often used in the phrase a millstone around one's neck).

Origin

before 1050; Middle English milneston, Old English mylenstān. See mill¹, stone

Examples from the web for millstone

Fewer people are turfed out of their homes, but the millstone of debt weighs for longer.
But once those ships began taking on water, gold was a millstone around their necks.
It's too soon to tell how heavy that millstone will be.

British Dictionary definitions for millstone

/ˈmɪlˌstəʊn/

noun

one of a pair of heavy flat disc-shaped stones that are rotated one against the other to grind grain

a heavy burden, such as a responsibility or obligation: his debts were a millstone round his neck

Word Origin and History for millstone

Old English mylenstan, from mill (n.1) + stone (n.). Figurative sense of "a burden" (1720) is from Matt. xviii:6.