I. ˈfed. ə l, -et ə l noun
( -s )
Etymology: from (assumed) Middle English fetel, from Old English, belt; akin to Old High German fezzil sword belt, Old Norse fetill, and probably to Old English fæt vessel — more at vat
dialect Britain : straw or hay especially when used as a basket handle
II. verb
( fettled ; fettled ; fettling ˈfed. ə liŋ, -t( ə )l- ; fettles )
Etymology: Middle English fetlen to shape, prepare; probably akin to Old English fæt vessel — more at vat
transitive verb
1. chiefly Britain : to set in working order : mend , repair
fettle a gun
2. dialect Britain : to make neat or orderly : arrange
fettle up the house
3. dialect Britain
a. : to feed and care for (a domestic animal)
b. : to groom and harness (a horse)
c. : to dress up : array
4. dialect England : mull
fettle a beverage
5. : to cover or line the hearth of (a reverberatory furnace) with fettling
6.
a. : to clean and smooth (as a metal or plastic) after casting or molding : dress
b. : to trim off excess clay at the seams of (cast and partly dried pottery ware)
c. : to remove excess dried glaze from (tile) before firing
7. : to clean accumulated fibers from the card clothing of (a woolen or worsted carding machine)
intransitive verb
1. dialect England : to make preparations : get ready
2. dialect England : to fuss especially over trifles
3. dialect England : to get along : fare
III. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a state of fitness or order : condition , trim
in pretty good fettle for a man of his years — R.L.Duffus
b. : state of mind : spirits
the good news put him in fine fettle
2. : fettling