つく

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.

• 祖そ母ぼは臼うすで米こめをついて餅もちを作つくった。

  My grandmother pounded rice in a mortar to make mochi.

• 昔むかしは足あし踏ぶみ式しきの杵きねで麦むぎをついていた。

  In the old days, they hulled barley using a foot-operated pestle.