Formerly it was called "kotsubo" (small pot) in distinction from chatsubo (tea jar) which was called "otsubo" (large pot) and, as a container for powdered green tea, it was also called "suri-chatsubo" (ground tea pot) in distinction from "ha-chatsubo" (tea leaf pot).
古くは茶壺を「大壺」と呼んだことに対して「小壺」と呼ばれ、また「葉茶壺」（はちゃつぼ）に対して抹茶を入れる容器として「擂茶壺」（すりちゃつぼ）とも呼ばれた。