/ ˈfetə(r); NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb [ vn ] [ usually passive ]
1.
( literary ) to restrict sb's freedom to do what they want
2.
to put chains around a prisoner's feet
SYN shackle
■ noun
1.
[ usually pl. ] ( literary ) something that stops sb from doing what they want :
They were at last freed from the fetters of ignorance.
2.
fetters [ pl. ] chains that are put around a prisoner's feet
SYN chains , shackles
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English feter , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch veter a lace, from an Indo-European root shared by foot .