kettling

[Michael Quinion]

Paul Frank wrote:

> The crowd-control tactic of "kettling," which is on the front pages of
> British newspapers this week, is not in the OED. Or at least I don't see it
> there. I first came across this word in 2009, in connection with the G20
> protests in London.

I discussed this briefly in the World Wide Wors newsletter at the time of
the G20 protests in London in 2004. Nobody then seemed to have a good idea
where the name comes from and, as far as I can discover, still don't. I'd
be delighted to be corrected on this!

--
Michael Quinion
Editor, World Wide Words
Web: http://www.worldwidewords.org

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