镬 (huò): wok (dialect)

Meanings

南方方言把锅叫镬。

Nánfāng fāngyán bǎ guō jiào huò.

In southern dialects a wok is called 镬.

古代，镬是残酷的刑具。

Gǔdài, huò shì cánkù de xíngjù.

In ancient times the cauldron was a brutal instrument of punishment.

culture

In southern dialects 镬 just means a wok. Historically it was a large legless cauldron, sometimes used to boil condemned prisoners alive.

radical

钅 jīn

metal; gold

The metal radical, side form of 金, marks 镬 as a metal vessel, here a large iron cauldron or wok.

phonetic

蒦 huò

to measure; grasp

Supplies the sound huò exactly. The same phonetic also drives 获 and 嚯.

镬 huò