Roll container Ethel emptied (5)
I believe the answer is:
bagel
'roll' is the definition.
(bagel is a type of roll)
'container ethel emptied' is the wordplay.
'container' becomes 'bag' (bag is a kind of container).
'emptied' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters).
'ethel' with its centre taken out is 'el'.
'bag'+'el'='BAGEL'
(Other definitions for bagel that I've seen before include "It's edible" , "Hard doughnut-shaped roll" , "Ring-shaped bread product" , "Doughnut-shaped bread roll" , "Jewish baked roll" .)