fettle

American  

[fet-l] / ˈfɛt l /

noun

1. state; condition.

   in fine fettle.

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verb (used with object)

fettled, fettling

1. Ceramics. to remove mold marks from (a cast piece).

2. Metallurgy.

   1. to remove sand from (a casting).

   2. to repair the hearth of (an open-hearth furnace).

fettle British  

/ ˈfɛtəl /

verb

1. to remove (excess moulding material and casting irregularities) from a cast component

2. to line or repair (the walls of a furnace)

3. dialect

   1. to prepare or arrange (a thing, oneself, etc), esp to put a finishing touch to

   2. to repair or mend (something)

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noun

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

2. another name for fettling

Etymology

Origin of fettle

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb fetlen, fetelen, fatelen “to shape, prepare,” perhaps from Old English noun fetel “belt, girdle”