Fettles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. To repair or fix something that is broken or damaged ; to prepare or clean an area or object to make it neat or ready for use
2. To mend by making necessary adjustments or corrections ; to arrange or organize by cleaning and making ready
3. To restore functionality or condition to an item ; to get something in order by tidying or preparing it appropriately

Etymology: "Fettles" is the third-person singular present of the verb "fettle," and it is the plural of the noun "fettle" as well. The verb's origin is uncertain, but its earliest traceable form is Late Middle English "fetlen," which meant to bestow, to fix, to prepare, or to put in place. A striking range of senses sat under that umbrella: a person could fettle themselves for battle, girding up for a fight, or an object could be shaped well or poorly. The word may descend from Old English "fetel," meaning belt or girdle. That link would make the modern sense of getting something in order a metaphor drawn from buckling oneself up, though the connection is not certain. Scholars also propose a second possible source, Old English "fetian," meaning to fetch, which traces back to a Proto-Germanic root linked to the idea of foot. Which of the two lies behind "fettle" remains unresolved, and the Old English "ġefetelsod," meaning provided with a belt or trimmed and polished, suggests the belt connection has real support.

Synonyms: conditions, states, situations, shapes, forms