Run Of The Mill Origin

Of lowell massachusetts in the lowell daily sun december 1895.

Run of the mill origin. It s all the stuff that s made by the mill before it s been graded or checked for quality. This expression alludes to fabrics coming directly from a mill without having been sorted or inspected for quality. Origins of run of the mill the term run of the mill has been in use since the early 20th century with the meaning not outstanding in quality or rarity average ordinary it s an adjective that modifies nouns. Fleeced jersey vests in white or ecru 2 for 25c.

We have run of the mill problems a discerning customer doesn t want a run of the mill sofa etc. The stuff could be good. The mill in question was a weaving mill and the articles first called run of the mill were clothes. An early citation of that comes from an advert by cook taylor co.

Run of the mill adj unspectacular 1909 in a literal sense in reference to material yielded by a mill etc before sorting for quality compare common run usual ordinary type from 1712. Figurative use is from 1922. Run of the mill is a little earlier than those and is american in origin. A sawmill for example that made boards planks or timber.

The phrase run of the mill appears to have originated from early factory quality control and described work that had not been graded and was therefore unlikely to be either exceptionally good or exceptionally bad. It has survived such similar phrases as run of the mine and run of the kiln for the products of mines and kilns. Over time mill came to mean any place that produced materials. Ordinary average as in there s nothing special about these singers they re just run of the mill.

Let s start with the word mill. Seconds and the run of the mill but for all wearing purposes just the same as firsts at twice the price. Mill originally meant a building equipped with machines that ground grain into flour.