kettle

[ ket-l ]

noun

1. a metal container in which to boil liquids, cook foods, etc.; pot.
2. a teakettle.
3. a kettledrum.
4. Geology. kettle hole.
5. an enclosed area to which demonstrators are herded for containment by police:

   Journalists were the first to be allowed to leave the kettle.

verb (used with object)

1. to surround and contain (demonstrators) in an enclosed area:

   Most demonstrators were too distracted to notice they were being kettled.

kettle

/ ˈkɛtəl /

noun

1. a metal or plastic container with a handle and spout for boiling water
2. any of various metal containers for heating liquids, cooking fish, etc
3. a large metal vessel designed to withstand high temperatures, used in various industrial processes such as refining and brewing
4. informal.
   an enclosed space formed by a police cordon in order to contain people involved in a public demonstration
5. short for kettle hole

verb

1. informal.
   tr (of a police force) to contain (people involved in a public demonstration) in an enclosed space

kettle

/ kĕt′l /

1. A steep, bowl-shaped hollow in ground once covered by a glacier. Kettles are believed to form when a block of ice left by a glacier becomes covered by sediments and later melts, leaving a hollow. They are usually tens of meters deep and up to tens of kilometers in diameter and often contain surface water.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kettle¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English ketel, from Old Norse ketill, ultimately derived from Latin catillus, diminutive of catīnus “pot”; replacing Old English cetel, cietel, ultimately from Latin as above; compare German Kessel

Word History and Origins

Origin of kettle¹

C13: from Old Norse ketill; related to Old English cietel kettle, Old High German kezzil; all ultimately from Latin catillus a little pot, from catīnus pot

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with kettle , also see pot calling the kettle black .

Example Sentences

"The press are a different kettle of fish."

From BBC

She said she saw her son take a kettle to the bathroom for water and had to remind him that they had a kitchen sink now.

From BBC

There are some games that will be so entertaining, they should hand out free kettle corn.

From Los Angeles Times

As the row escalated, Mr Combs allegedly threatened an intern with a kettle bell.

From BBC

The size of our equipment, such as tanks and steaming kettles, has been increased so that large quantities can be made.

From Salon

Related Words

• boiler
• cauldron
• pot
• steamer