fettle
/ˈfɛtl̩/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 1.98 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A state of physical condition; kilter or trim.
noun
Example Sentences
- "These strong 2-8-2s […] appeared in good fettle, especially those shedded at Lublin and several arrivals and departures were photographed in the fine evening light."
- "What’s yer fettle marra?"
- "He is getting his saddle altered: fettling about this and that; does not consider what danger he is in."
- "For some time after the train had gone Oscar stood on the track conversing with members of the fettling gang […]"
- "Nor list he now go whistling to the car, But sells his team , and fettleth to the war"
- "Divint fettle yersel ower that!"
Etymology
From Late Middle English fetlen (“(verb) to bestow; to fix, prepare, put in place; to prepare (oneself) for battle, gird up; to shape; to be about to, or to ready (oneself) to stay; (adjective) shaped (well or poorly)”) [and other forms], which possibly: * from Old English fetel (“belt, girdle, fettle”), from Proto-Germanic *fatilaz, further etymology unknown; or * from Old English fetian (“to fetch”), from Proto-Germanic *fatōną, *fatjaną (“to fetch”), from Proto-Indo-European *ped- (“foot”). Compare Old English ġefetelsod (“provided with a belt; trimmed, polished, ornamented”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Usage
- British usage
- Intransitive verb
- Transitive verb
- Archaic