fet|tle

fet|tle
fet|tle «FEHT uhl», noun, verb, -tled, -tling.
–n.
1. condition; state of readiness for action; trim: »

The horse is in fine fettle and should win the race.

2. Northern British Dialect. a scouring; a polishing; a thorough cleaning.
–v.t.
1. Dialect. to make ready; put in order; arrange.
2. Northern British Dialect. to scour; polish; clean: »

to fettle a room, to fettle the pans, to fettle the gas cooker.

3. Dialect. to beat; thrash.
4. to line or cover (the hearth of a puddling furnace or open-hearth furnace) with sand, ore, etc.
[probably Middle English fettelen prepare, gird up < Old English fetel belt]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • fet·tle — /ˈfɛtl̩/ noun [singular] informal : a person s physical state or condition usually used in the phrase in fine fettle He seems to be in fine fettle this morning. [=he seems to be feeling very well; he seems very fit and cheerful] …   Useful english dictionary

  • tle — abris·tle; abus·tle; apos·tle; apos·tle·hood; apos·tle·ship; bait·tle; bat·tle·dore; bat·tle·ment; bat·tle·ment·ed; bat·tle·some; be·lit·tle; be·lit·tle·ment; bot·tle·ful; bris·tle·less; brus·tle; but·tle; cac·o·mis·tle; cas·tle·ry; cas·tle·ward; …   English syllables

  • fet — af·fet·tu·o·so; as·a·fet·i·da; buf·fet·ing; con·fet·ti; fet; fet·er·i·ta; fet·id; fet·ish; fet·ish·ism; fet·ish·ist; fet·ish·is·tic; fet·ish·ize; fet·low; fet·ter·less; fet·ti·cus; fet·tler; fet·tuc·cel·le; fet·tuc·ci·ne; haf·fet; tri·um·fet·ta;… …   English syllables

  • fettle — fet·tle …   English syllables

  • fettle — fet|tle [ˈfetl] n [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: fettle to clean, make ready (14 19 centuries)] in fine/good fettle old fashioned healthy or working properly …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • fettle — fet|tle [ fetl ] noun be in fine/good/excellent fettle INFORMAL OLD FASHIONED to be healthy or performing or working well …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • fettle — fet•tle [[t]ˈfɛt l[/t]] n. v. tled, tling 1) state; condition: in fine fettle[/ex] 2) a) mel to remove mold marks or sand from (a casting) b) mel to repair the hearth of (an open hearth furnace) • Etymology: 1300–50; ME fetlen to shape, prepare,… …   From formal English to slang

  • Fettle — Fet tle, v. t. [OE. & Prov. E., to fettle (in sense 1), fettle, n., order, repair, preparation, dress; prob. akin to E. fit. See {Fit}, a.] 1. To repair; to prepare; to put in order. [Prov. Eng.] Carlyle. [1913 Webster] 2. (Metal.) To cover or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fettle — Fet tle, v. i. To make preparations; to put things in order; to do trifling business. [Prov. Eng.] Bp. Hall. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fettle — Fet tle, n. The act of fettling. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. [1913 Webster] {In fine fettle}, in good spirits. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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