Like the last clause in this sentence, the term crock pot is redundant because crock means pot, and pot means crock. This sense of crock is still evident in the old-fashioned phrase crock of gold, now heard only in conjunction with leprechauns and rainbows. The word crock, which in the mid eighteenth century gave rise to the word crockery, meaning earthenware, dates back in English to at least the eleventh century. In other languages, crock has numerous relatives—for example, the Dutch kruik, the Welsh crochan, the Greek krossos, and the German krug—bui the ultimate source of all these words is unknown. One other relative of crock, the Old Saxon kruka, is notable because it was adopted by Old French as crue. In Anglo-Norman French, this crue gave rise to the diminutive cruet, meaning little pot, which English adopted in the late fourteenth century as a name for a small glass bottle used at the dinner table to dispense oil or vinegar.
A slow cooker or crock-pot is an electric kitchen appliance used for cooking dishes such as stews, soups, and casseroles at a low temperature for several hours. The low temperature ensures that the food does not burn and can be left unattended for extended periods of time. The condensation formed on the lid keeps the food moist and flavorful.