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Hi, Rusty!
Thank you.
I have never heard of "kettle" used in that way.
I only know it as a kitchen utensil in which one boils water!
I can see "railing", but do not understand "tombola".
I shall put the book clearance on hold now, until I can get more boxes - and probably time wise until after the family has been.
The books are in very good condition.......they will be better in a box , if the charity shop hopes to sell them.
I reckon I'm probably looking at about a dozen more boxes...if I continue to be "firm" with myself!!
(My resolve may weaken overnight....)

Rusty, Elle, I too puzzled over Tombola - until I remembered the big round ( wooden, I think) drum that used to feature in the my mum's church Christmas Fayre. That was what was spun, then a winning ticket would be pulled out. I assume the 'drum roll' is just the spinning of this?

Hello, Elle!
That "kettle" is not in my old Chambers, but I have seen it used on the News several times, when police are confining demonstrators to prevent them marching.
Could be, I suppose, that it is only a Scottish term?
Is it not in your much newer Chambers?
I have looked up "tombola" in Chambers, and it states that winning tickets are drawn from a revolving drum, I think.
So, the clue looks fine?

Hello, Malone!
Yes, your "tombola" parse makes good sense.
I should have looked it up in the dictionary earlier!

I don't know the clue, but "kettling" was a controversial police tactic used against protests in London some years ago....

Rusty, glad you got the tombola sorted. 'Kettle' (as in forming a cordon) isn't in my 12th edition Chambers, but is in the revised 13th. It's not given as Scottish.

Update, Elle!
I have Chambers Dictionary on an app on my 'phone.
I looked up "kettle" and one definition is,
"an enclosed area created by cordons of police officers to control public protesters."

Rusty, isn't it good that language evolves to keep up with current events? I'm not a fan of all new words, of course, but it's interesting at times!

Hi malone
Yes, but I would make a distinction between words taking on new meanings, and words with different meanings becoming interchangeable. I find the latter so aggravating...

Hello, Malone!
Posts are crossing!
Yes, I like to see the language evolve.
I keep forgetting my Chambers app!
I got it several years ago from Google Play Store and it is very good.
I wonder how they came up with "kettle" for confinement?

ChrisE, you're ever so slightly aggravating with your aggravating! (The real meaning is and always has been known to me.)