kettle
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Either from (Verification for this etymology is sought): Old English (Northumbrian) cetel, or from [1] Old Norse ketill, from West Germanic *katil, from Latin catillus, diminutive of cantīnus ‘food-vessel’. Cognate with Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐍄𐌹𐌻𐍃 (katils), Danish kedel (spelling before the writing reform of 1948: kjedel), Dutch ketel, German Kessel, Norwegian kjel West Frisian tsjettel (English did not follow the Ingvaeonic nasal spirant law in this occasion), Russian котёл.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
kettle (plural kettles)
- (US, cooking) A vessel for boiling a liquid or cooking food, usually metal and equipped with a lid.
- The quantity held by a kettle.
- (British) A vessel for boiling water for tea; a teakettle.
- Stick the kettle on and we'll have a nice cup of tea.
- A pothole.
- The collective noun for a group of airborne hawks.
- (rail transport, slang) A steam locomotive
- (music) A kettledrum.
- (geology) A kettle hole.
[edit] Usage notes
In British English, if not specified otherwise, the kettle usually refers to a vessel for boiling the water for tea.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
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[edit] Verb
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Infinitive |
Third person singular |
Simple past |
Past participle |
Present participle |
to kettle (third-person singular simple present kettles, present participle kettling, simple past and past participle kettled)
- (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.
- 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:
[edit] References
- Notes:
- ^ According to ODS: "eng. kettle laant fra nord.", English kettle borrowed from Norse

