fettle

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: fet=tle

CIDE DICTIONARY

fettle, v. t. [OE. & Prov. E., to fettle (in sense 1), fettle, n., order, repair, preparation, dress; prob. akin to E. fit. See Fit, a.].

•  To repair; to prepare; to put in order.  Carlyle.  [1913 Webster]
•  To cover or line with a mixture of ore, cinders, etc., as the hearth of a puddling furnace.  [1913 Webster]

fettle, v. i. 

 To make preparations; to put things in order; to do trifling business.  Bp. Hall.  [1913 Webster]

fettle, n. 

 The act of fettling.  Wright.  [1913 Webster]

In fine fettle, in good spirits.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

fettle, n. & v.
--n. condition or trim (in fine fettle).
--v.tr. trim or clean (the rough edge of a metal casting, pottery before firing, etc.).

Etymology

earlier as verb, f. dial. fettle (n.) = girdle, f. OE fetel f. Gmc

ROGET THESAURUS

fettle

Preparation

VB prepare, get ready, make ready, make preparations, settle preliminaries, get up, sound the note of preparation, set in order, put in order, forecast, prepare the ground, plow the ground, dress the ground, till the soil, cultivate the soil, predispose, sow the seed, lay a train, dig a mine, lay the groundwork, fix the groundwork, lay the basis, fix the basis, lay the foundations, fix the foundations, dig the foundations, erect the scaffolding, lay the first stone, roughhew, cut out work, block out, hammer out, lick into shape, elaborate, mature, ripen, mellow, season, bring to maturity, nurture, hatch, cook, brew, temper, anneal, smelt, barbecue, infumate, maturate, equip, arm, man, fit-out, fit up, furnish, rig, dress, garnish, betrim, accouter, array, fettle, fledge, dress up, furbish up, brush up, vamp up, refurbish, sharpen one's tools, trim one's foils, set, prime, attune, whet the knife, whet the sword, wind up, screw up, adjust, put in trim, put in train, put in gear, put in working order, put in tune, put in a groove for, put in harness, pack, train, inure, breed, prepare for, rehearse, make provision for, take steps, take measures, take precautions, provide, provide against, beat up for recruits, open the door to, set one's house in order, make all snug, clear the decks, clear for action, close one's ranks, shuffle the cards, prepare oneself, serve an apprenticeship, lay oneself out for, get into harness, gird up one's loins, buckle on one's armor, reculer pour mieux sauter, prime and load, shoulder arms, get the steam up, put the horses to, guard against, make sure against, forearm, make sure, prepare for the evil day, have a rod in pickle, provide against a rainy day, feather one's nest, lay in provisions, make investments, keep on foot, be prepared, be ready, hold oneself in readiness, keep one's powder dry, lie in wait for, anticipate, principiis obstare, veniente occurrere morbo.