English · Word Candidate

kettle

/ˈkɛ.təl/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: kettles · kettling

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A vessel for boiling a liquid or cooking food, usually metal and equipped with a lid.

Noun

Examples

To cook pasta, you first need to put the kettle on.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

The quantity held by a kettle.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To contain demonstrators in a confined area.

Verb

Examples

Life for senior officers has been made much easier by the use of counter-terrorism powers, which enable them 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.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

Of a boiler: to make a whistling sound like the boiling of a kettle, indicative of various types of fault.

Verb

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “kettle” mean?

A vessel for boiling a liquid or cooking food, usually metal and equipped with a lid.

Is “kettle” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.