| 释义 |
fet·tle
I. \ˈfed.əl, -etəl\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: from (assumed) Middle English fetel, from Old English, belt; akin to Old High German fezzil sword belt, Old Norse fetill, and probably to Old English fæt vessel — more at vat
dialect Britain : straw or hay especially when used as a basket handle
II. verb
(fettled ; fettled ; fettling \ˈfed.əliŋ, -t(ə)l-\ ; fettles)
Etymology: Middle English fetlen to shape, prepare; probably akin to Old English fæt vessel — more at vat
transitive verb
1. chiefly Britain : to set in working order : mend, repair
< fettle a gun >
2. dialect Britain : to make neat or orderly : arrange
< fettle up the house >
3. dialect Britain
a. : to feed and care for (a domestic animal)
b. : to groom and harness (a horse)
c. : to dress up : array
4. dialect England : mull
< fettle a beverage >
5. : to cover or line the hearth of (a reverberatory furnace) with fettling
6.
a. : to clean and smooth (as a metal or plastic) after casting or molding : dress
b. : to trim off excess clay at the seams of (cast and partly dried pottery ware)
c. : to remove excess dried glaze from (tile) before firing
7. : to clean accumulated fibers from the card clothing of (a woolen or worsted carding machine)
intransitive verb
1. dialect England : to make preparations : get ready
2. dialect England : to fuss especially over trifles
3. dialect England : to get along : fare
III. noun
(-s)
1.
a. : a state of fitness or order : condition, trim
< in pretty good fettle for a man of his years — R.L.Duffus >
b. : state of mind : spirits
< the good news put him in fine fettle >
2. : fettling |