noun
strickle; leveling rod for grain measures
A traditional rod used to sweep excess grain from the top of a masu (枡) or similar measuring container, ensuring a level measure. Primarily encountered in historical or cultural contexts.
昔の米屋では、斗掻きを使って一升枡の米を正確に量った。
In old rice shops, they used a strickle to accurately measure rice in a one-shō masu.
博物館で江戸時代の斗掻きが展示されている。
A strickle from the Edo period is on display at the museum.
枡 is the measuring box itself, while 斗掻き is the rod used to level the contents.
Compound of 斗 (to, a traditional unit of volume) and 掻き (kaki, from 掻く 'to scrape'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word directly describes the tool's function.