windmills

     

A winmill is a machine that is powered by the energy of the wind. It is designed to convert the energy of the wind into more useful forms using rotating blades or sails. The term also refers to the structure it is commonly built on. In much of Europe, windmills served originally to grind grain, though later applications included pumping water and, more recently, generation of electricity. Recent electricity generating versions are referred to as wind turbines.

Trivia about windmills

  • With his overactive imagination, Don Quixote thought these objects were giants
  • They might be giants, but in Don Quixote's case, he was tilting at these
  • To attack imaginary enemies is to "tilt at" these, just like Don Quixote
  • The skyline of the California Danish village of Solvang has several of these quaint power-producing devices