godan verb (-ku), transitive verb
hull; pound; polish (grain); stamp (ore)
Used for processing grains or ore by pounding, hulling, or polishing. Typically refers to traditional methods like using a mortar and pestle. The kanji forms 搗く and 舂く are rare; the word is usually written in kana.
祖母は臼で米をついて餅を作った。
My grandmother pounded rice in a mortar to make mochi.
昔は足踏み式の杵で麦をついていた。
In the old days, they hulled barley using a foot-operated pestle.