Here's a breakdown:
* Chata (ചത) means "to crush" or "to grind".
* Vaar (വാര്) is an archaic suffix that indicates an action or process.
So, "chatavaar" literally means "the act of crushing or grinding".
It's not used as frequently in modern Malayalam, but you might still find it used in some contexts, particularly when describing traditional methods of preparing food or medicines.
Here are some examples of how "chatavaar" might be used:
* "Milagu chatavaar" (മിലക് ചതവാര്) - Grinding peppercorns
* "Pacha chatavaar" (പച്ച ചതവാര്) - Grinding green spices
* "Mooli chatavaar" (മൂളി ചതവാര്) - Grinding radish
While "chatavaar" doesn't have a direct English equivalent, you could use phrases like "to grind finely", "to pulverize", or "to crush into a powder" to convey its meaning.