Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Fetter — Fet ter (f[e^]t t[ e]r), n. [AS. fetor, feter; akin to OS. feter[=o]s, pl., OD. veter, OHG. fezzera, Icel. fj[ o]turr, L. pedica, Gr. pe dh, and to E. foot. [root] 77. See {Foot}.] [Chiefly used in the plural, {fetters}.] 1. A chain or shackle… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Fetter — Fet ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fettered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fettering}.] 1. To put fetters upon; to shackle or confine the feet of with a chain; to bind. [1913 Webster] My heels are fettered, but my fist is free. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. To… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Fetter — Fetter, Adolf von, preuß. General, geb. 27. Juli 1846 in Köln, wurde 1865 Leutnant, besuchte 1869–1873 mit Unterbrechung durch den Krieg die Kriegsakademie, war zur Dienstleistung beim Großen Generalstab befehligt, wirkte als Lehrer an der… … Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon
fetter — I noun bond, bridle, catena, chain, check, compes, confinement, constraint, control, curb, detention, deterrence, deterrent, disadvantage, encumbrance, gyve, hamper, handicap, hindrance, impediment, imprisonment, incarceration, inhibition,… … Law dictionary
fetter — vb shackle, *hamper, trammel, clog, manacle, hog tie Analogous words: *hinder, impede, obstruct, block, bar, dam: *restrain, curb, check: baffle, balk, thwart, foil, *frustrate: bind, *tie Contrasted words: * … New Dictionary of Synonyms
fetter — [v] tie up, hold bind, chain, check, clog, confine, cuff, curb, drag feet, encumber, hamper, hamstring*, handcuff, hang up, hinder, hobble, hog tie*, hold captive, leash, manacle, put straitjacket on*, repress, restrain, restrict, shackle, throw… … New thesaurus
fetter — ► NOUN 1) a chain or shackle placed around a prisoner s ankles. 2) a restraint or check. ► VERB 1) restrain with fetters. 2) (be fettered) be restricted. ORIGIN Old English … English terms dictionary
fetter — [fet′ər] n. [ME feter < OE < base of fot, FOOT, akin to Ger fessel] 1. a shackle or chain for the feet 2. anything that holds in check; restraint vt. [ME feterien < OE (ge)feterian] 1. to bind with fetters; shackle; chain … English World dictionary
fetter — {{11}}fetter (n.) O.E. fetor chain or shackle for the feet, from P.Gmc. *fetero (Cf. O.S. feteros (pl.), M.Du. veter fetter, in modern Dutch lace, string, O.H.G. fezzera, O.N. fiöturr, Swed. fjätter), from PIE root *ped foot (see FOOT (Cf … Etymology dictionary
fetter — UK [ˈfetə(r)] / US [ˈfetər] verb [transitive] Word forms fetter : present tense I/you/we/they fetter he/she/it fetters present participle fettering past tense fettered past participle fettered 1) literary to limit someone s freedom to do what… … English dictionary
fetter — [OE] Etymologically, fetters are shackles for restraining the ‘feet’. The word comes from prehistoric Germanic *feterō, which derived ultimately from the same Indo European base, *ped , as produced English foot. The parallel Latin formation,… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
