earthenware mortar; grinding bowl
A traditional Japanese ridged mortar (suribachi) used with a pestle (surikogi) for grinding sesame seeds, miso, and other ingredients.
See also: すり鉢
Grind sesame seeds in a mortar.
My grandmother used to grind miso with a mortar and pestle.
Standard kanji spelling using 当たり.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; common in everyday writing.
Variant using the simplified okurigana 当り.
Compound of 当たり (atari, 'hitting' or 'grinding') and 鉢 (hachi, 'bowl'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the name likely refers to the grinding action inside the bowl.