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Keel the pot

Posted by Bruce Kahl on November 28, 2007

In Reply to: Keel the pot posted by Mark Hammond on November 28, 2007

: Does anyone know what "While greasy Joan doth keel the pot" means ? A phrase taken from Shakespeare's poem Winter, from Love's Labour's Lost. Have tried to find info on Shakespeare's phrases sites but not listed.

Keel has many meanings one of which is a brewer's cooling vat.
The German is kiihlen, Old English celan.
Joan is pouring in cold water to cool off the pot to avoid a boil over.

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