碾 is another kanji with the meaning of grinding, and the same kun-reading (hi・ku), but 挽 seems to be used often for tools (like saws) more often. In any case, I don't think many people use these kanji often, so you will always see grind tea as お茶をひく. Here's a pic of a traditional tea grinder, or 石臼 (ishiusu):おちゃっぴい Breakdown:Meaning: A funny chatterbox (not a bad thing, despite the word's origins)
Components: From お茶 (ocha, tea) and 挽き (hiki is the noun form of hiku, to mill); both parts became hirigana, and hiki had its sound voiced and altered
Origin: Ladies in the red district used to grind tea leaves and gab while business was slow
Alternative forms: おちゃっぴー or おちゃっぴぃ (they seem appropriately feminine-sounding to me)
Popularity: Seems to be a dead word
[further reading in Japanese]
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