Etymology Dictionary

KETTLE,  a metal vessel for boiling liquids.  (L.)   M.E. ketel (with one t), Prompt. Parv.; Wyclif, Levit. xi. 35.—A.S. cetel, spelt cytel in Ælfric's Glossary, to translate Lat. cacabus; Wright's Vocab. i. 25, col. 1.   But the spelling cetel is authorised by the occurrence of the weakened form chetel in a gloss of the 12th cent.; id. p. 93, col. 1.   The Mœso-Goth. form is katils, occurring in the gen. pl. katile in Mark, vii. 4 (Gk. χαλκίων, Lat. æramentorum, A.V. 'brazen vessels').   β. Borrowed from Lat. catillus, a small bowl, also found in the uncontracted form catinulus; dimin. form of Lat. catinus, a bowl, a deep vessel for cooking food.   The Lat. catinus is a kindred word to Gk. κότυλος, a cup, κοτύλν, a small cup; see Cotyledon.   ¶ From the Lat. catillus were also borrowed Icel. ketill, Swed. kittel, Dan. kedel, Du. ketel, G. kessel, and even Russ. kotel’.   Der. kettle-drum, Hamlet, i. 4. 11.