In the German-speaking dialects of the Alpine region, the word Kessel refers to various types of vessels associated with milk processing. Thus, Kessel can mean a vessel for making cheese, but also, a vessel used for collecting milk in general. It seems that, like in standard language, kettle refers to a vessel made of metal, since among the attested terms for the concept EIMER terms belonging to the lemma Eimer or Kessel can be found. A VESSEL FOR MAKING CHEESE, however, is never designated by any form of Eimer, since a refractory material is necessary for heating the milk.

The nhd. Kessel can be traced back to the diminutive of the Latin catinus (cf. Georges under catīllus), which is catīllus. The borrowing from Latin must have taken place early because katil(s) is already attested in Gothic (cf. Wulfila, Mk 7, 4) as a designation for a metal vessel, as well as in many other Germanic languages (cf. DWB under Kessel; DWDS under Kessel; Kluge under Kessel).