kettle

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
kettle/ˈketl/

▶noun

• 1 a metal or plastic container with a lid, spout, and handle, used for boiling water.

• 2 a container in which operations are carried out on metals or other substances with a low melting point.

– phrases
a different kettle of fish informal a person or matter that is altogether different from the one just mentioned.
a pretty (or fine) kettle of fish informal an awkward state of affairs.

– origin OE cetel, cietel, of Gmc origin, based on L. catillus, dimin. of catinus ‘deep container for cooking or serving food’.