KETTLE

kettle, boiler

(noun) a metal pot for stewing or boiling; usually has a lid

kettle, kettledrum, tympanum, tympani, timpani

(noun) a large hemispherical brass or copper percussion instrument with a drumhead that can be tuned by adjusting the tension on it

kettle, kettleful

(noun) the quantity a kettle will hold

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Noun

kettle (plural kettles)

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.

Synonym: teakettle

(geology) A kettle hole, sometimes any pothole.

(ornithology, collective) A group of raptors riding a thermal, especially when migrating.

(rail transport, slang) A steam locomotive

(musical instruments) A kettledrum.

An instance of kettling; a group of protesters or rioters confined in a limited area.

Usage notes

In most varieties of English outside the United States (UK, Irish, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian), if not specified otherwise, kettle usually refers to a vessel for boiling the water for tea.

Verb

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.

Etymology 2

Noun

kettle (plural kettles)

Alternative form of kiddle (“kind of fishweir”)

Proper noun

Kettle (plural Kettles)

A surname.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Kettle is the 14307^th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 2092 individuals. Kettle is most common among White (84.56%) individuals.

Source: Wiktionary

Ket"tle, n. Etym: [OE. ketel; cf. AS. cetel, cetil, cytel; akin to D. kjedel, G. kessel, OHG. chezzil, Icel. ketill, SW. kittel, Dan. kjedel, Goth. katils; all perh. fr. L. catillus, dim. of catinus a deep vessel, bowl; but cf. also OHG. chezzi kettle, Icel. kati small ship.]

Definition: A metallic vessel, with a wide mouth, often without a cover, used for heating and boiling water or other liguids. Kettle pins, ninepins; skittles. [Obs.] Shelton.

– Kettle stitch (Bookbinding), the stitch made in sewing at the head and tail of a book. Knight.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition