臼うす

noun

mortar; millstone

Refers to a traditional Japanese grinding or pounding vessel, often made of stone or wood, used with a pestle (杵, きね) for making mochi, grinding grains, or crushing ingredients.

• 正しょう月がつには臼うすと杵きねで餅もちをつきます。

  At New Year's, we pound mochi with a mortar and pestle.

• 祖そ母ぼは石いし臼うすで大だい豆ずを挽ひいてきな粉こを作つくった。

  My grandmother ground soybeans in a stone mill to make kinako.