Ket"tle (?), n. [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.]
A metallic vessel, with a wide mouth, often without a cover, used for heating and boiling water or other liquids.
Kettle pins, ninepins; skittles. [Obs.] Shelton. -- Kettle stitch Bookbinding, the stitch made in sewing at the head and tail of a book. Knight.
© Webster 1913.