cauldron

plural cauldrons · alternative archaic caldron · alternative obsolete caudron · alternative obsolete cawdron · alternative obsolete caadron

1. A large bowl-shaped pot used for boiling over an open flame.

   Double, double, toile and trouble; / Fire burne, and Cauldron bubble.

   c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 143, column 2

   2 more examples

   […] I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses … […]

   1997, J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Raincoast Books, →ISBN, page 102

   Large cauldrons are a little tricky to locate, but are well worth the search if you have a place to safely store and use one.

   2004, Carl Neal, The Magick Toolbox: The Ultimate Compendium for Choosing and Using Ritual Implements and Magickal Tools, Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC, →ISBN

2. governmentA type of encirclement.

   Near-synonym: kettle

   3 more examples

   After having defended the constantly shrinking perimeter of their position for over two weeks, the encircled German units in the Cherkassy “cauldron” were ordered to break out.

   1966, George H. Stein, The Waffen SS: Hitler’s Elite Guard at War, 1939–1945, →ISBN, page 217

   The cauldron had been formed, and some 2,000 Soviets had been encircled in it; the division estimated this quite a success.

   2012, Hans Wijers, Winter Storm: The Battle for Stalingrad and the Operation to Rescue 6th Army, →ISBN, page 153

   This could have been avoided had the Ukrainian Army either evacuated the troops in the southern cauldron once it became clear that their position was untenable or reinforced them substantially in order to reopen supply lines.

   2016, Paul Robinson, “Explaining the Ukrainian Army’s defeat in Donbass in 2014”, in J. L. Black, Michael Johns, editors, The Return of the Cold War: Ukraine, the West and Russia, →ISBN, page 120

   Synonyms: kettle

3. figurativelyAn unsettled or difficult situation or place.

   a cauldron of discontent

   2 more examples

   Near-synonyms: kettle, pickle; see also Thesaurus:difficult situation

   With Old Trafford a cauldron of noise, Kobbie Mainoo somehow kept his cool to curl an equaliser into the corner of the Lyon goal as the tie entered its final minute.

   2025 April 17, Simon Stone, “Manchester United 5-4 Olympique Lyonnais”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 31 May 2025

   Synonyms: kettle, pickle, ass in a sling, bind, bucket of syrup, calvary, cross, cross to bear