[Sp., f. arrastrar to trail along the ground, f. L. rastrum harrow.] An apparatus for grinding and mixing ores by the action of a heavy stone dragged round on a circular bed.
1881. Raymond, Mining Gloss, s.v., The arrastre is chiefly used for ores containing free gold, and amalgamation is combined with the grinding. (Sometimes incorrectly written arraster, arrastra, or raster.)
1883. Standard, 20 Jan., 1/5. The whole of it has been treated, partly by means of arrastras.
