[fet.ter] n [ME feter, fr. OE; akin to OE fot foot] (bef. 12c) 1: a chain or shackle for the feet
2: something that confines: restraint
[2]fetter vt (bef. 12c) 1: to put fetters on: shackle
2: to restrain from motion, action, or progress syn see hamper