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

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

• pot calling the kettle black

Example Sentences

The Smashing Machine is a different kettle of fish, focusing on the world of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and how prominent a figure Kerr was in the early years of the sport in the 1990s.

From BBC

"Hair straighteners, I wouldn't dare put them on if the kettle was on too," says Jaycee.

From BBC

In the kitchen, a gas stove heats a kettle.

From BBC

Each kettle corn popcorn is generously coated in honey powder and hot cayenne pepper, providing the perfect balance of two bold flavors.

From Salon

Posting on X, he said: "Anyone stuck in town who can't get home give me a dm, have 2 sofas people can crash on, can put the kettle on and get people warm at least."

From BBC

Related Words

• boiler 
• cauldron 
• pot 
• steamer