Kettle

Pronunciation

• enPR: kÄ•t'(É™)l, IPA: /ˈkÉ›tÉ™l/
• Rhymes: -É›t(É™)l

Origin

From Middle English ketel, also chetel, from Old Norse ketill and Old English cytel, cetel, citel ("kettle, cauldron"), both from Proto-Germanic *katilaz ("kettle, bucket, vessel"), of uncertain origin and formation. Usually regarded as a borrowing of Late Latin catīllus ("small bowl"), diminutive of catinus ("deep bowl, vessel for cooking up or serving food"), however, the word may be Germanic confused with the Latin: compare Old High German chezzi ("a kettle, dish, bowl"), Old English cete ("cooking pot"), Icelandic kati, ketla ("a small boat"). Cognate with West Frisian tsjettel ("kettle"), Dutch ketel ("kettle"), German Kessel ("kettle"), Swedish kittel ("kettle"), Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐍄𐌹𐌻𐍃 (katils, "kettle"). Compare also Russian котёл (kotjól, "boiler, cauldron").

Oxford English Dictionary 2ed. "kettle"

Full definition of kettle

Noun

1. A vessel for boiling a liquid or cooking food, usually metal and equipped with a lid.To cook pasta, you first need to put the kettle on.There's a hot kettle of soup on the stove.
2. The quantity held by a kettle.
3. (British) A vessel for boiling water for tea; a teakettle.Stick the kettle on and we'll have a nice cup of tea.
4. (geology) A kettle hole, sometimes any pothole.
5. (ornithology) A collective term for a group of raptors riding a thermal, especially when migrating.
• 2006, Keith L. Bildstein, Migrating Raptors of the World: Their Ecology & Conservation - Page 76:The term kettle refers to a group of raptors wheeling or circling in a thermal.
• 2010, Jean-Luc E. Cartron, Raptors of New Mexico:Kettles can consist of thousands of birds migrating together.
6. (rail transport, slang) A steam locomotive
7. (musical instruments) A kettledrum.

Usage notes

In British English, if not specified otherwise, the kettle usually refers to a vessel for boiling the water for tea.

Derived terms

• kettle of fish
• teakettle or tea kettle

Verb

1. (British, of the police) To contain demonstrators in a confined area.
• 2009, John O'Connor, G20: The upside of kettling, Guardian, pages http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/apr/02/police-g20-protest-kettling:... to contain demonstrators for hours in a confined spot. This tactic, known as kettling, is seen by some as an attempt to prevent people lawfully demonstrating.