fettle

UK: /ˈfɛt^əl/ US: /ˈfɛtəl/ ,(fet′l)

Inflections of 'fettle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

fettles

v 3rd person singular

fettling

v pres p

fettled

v past

fettled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fet•tle /ˈfɛtəl/   n. [uncountable]

1. state;
   condition:
   They felt in fine fettle.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fet•tle  (fet′l), n., v., -tled, -tling. 
n. 

1. state;
   condition:
   in fine fettle.

v.t. 

2. Ceramics to remove mold marks from (a cast piece).
3. [Metall.]
   • Metallurgy to remove sand from (a casting).
   • Metallurgy to repair the hearth of (an open-hearth furnace).

• Middle English fetle to shape, prepare, back formation from fetled, Old English *fetelede girded up, equivalent. to fetel belt + -ede -ed² 1300–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fettle / ˈfɛt^əl/ verb (transitive)

1. to line or repair (the walls of a furnace)
2. to prepare or arrange (a thing, oneself, etc), esp to put a finishing touch to
3. to repair or mend (something)

noun

1. state of health, spirits, etc (esp in the phrase in fine fettle)

Etymology: 14th Century (in the sense: to put in order): back formation from fetled girded up, from Old English fetel belt