From Old English 'hlædel,' from 'hladan' (to load)—a ladle is a 'loader' of liquid.
A large, long-handled spoon with a deep bowl, used for serving soups, stews, and sauces.
From Old English 'hlædel,' from 'hladan' (to load, to draw up water). A ladle is etymologically a 'loader'—a tool for loading liquid from one vessel to another. The same root gives us 'lade' and 'laden.' Key roots: *hlaþ- (Proto-Germanic: "to load, to heap up").