FETTLE

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Dr. Goodword
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FETTLE

Postby Dr. Goodword » Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:23 am

• fettle •

Pronunciation: fet-êl • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Noun, mass

Meaning: 1. (Archaic even in Scotland, I hear) A belt or strap. 2. Condition, health, or state.

Notes: Today's Good Word is still used as a verb meaning to put things in order, tidy up, arrange, or prepare. In Australia, a fettler is a railway maintenance worker. It also describes the final phase of manufacturing when the rough edges of products are smoothed off and the final product is "tightened up" (see Word History). The gist of all its meanings is to put something into excellent order.

In Play: In most English-speaking areas, today's Good Word is limited to the crystallized phrase in fine fettle: "I was surprised that Armand seemed to be in fine fettle this morning despite his hard partying last night." However, the word retains its sense of "condition" and may be used accordingly: "Mortimer has a toothache this morning that puts him in agonizing fettle, so don't annoy him."

Word History: The origins of today's Good Word are obscure. It seems to have come from the word for "belt", Old English fetel, related to German Fessel "chain, fetter". Indeed, fetter itself appears to be a relative. The verb was used in the sense of "tidy up" and also "prepare", as to fettle oneself for battle or the road. This sense seems to have come from "tightening up", which means "to put into (better) order" even today. Anything in fine fettle, therefore, is something tightened up and in good order. (Our vocabularies are now in better fettle because Stan Davis of Lakewood, Colorado, suggested this fine Good Word.)
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Bailey
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Postby Bailey » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:02 am

"Mortimer has a toothache this morning that puts him in agonizing fettle, so don't annoy him."
Now that is interesting as I've never heard this word without the adjective 'fine' on it's elbow.

Mortimer being who he is and his native temper withstanding, perhaps the alliteration is just too attractive.

mark in-furious-fettle Mark

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Perry
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Postby Perry » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:41 pm

After we share our fettles, we can have a group hug. And if anyone beltsme, I won't take offense.
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skinem
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Postby skinem » Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:09 pm

That's a fine word!

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Postby sluggo » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:44 am

Michel LePoubelle ran a cooking school, and was known to comment unabashedly on his students' work. One day he was making the rounds judging the day's project, taking tastes here and there in random order around the room.

"Bleah! Burned! You cooked it too fast!", he scolded Dinah Sklub.

"What's this? A cardboard pie??" he sneered at Al Fresco.

Round the room he went, finding faults everywhere to the point where it seemed today's common dish was beyond the ken of the class. Finally he came round to Anita Barphebagg, who looked strangely confident. LePoubelle took a sample, said nothing at first, looked almost bewildered, then settled into a serene satisfaction. "Ah, there it is" he said calmly, "a fine fettle of quiche!"

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Postby Stargzer » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:43 pm

Great minds think alike, Sluggo, but you beat me to the draw ...
As Max made the rounds of his deli, checking each item prepared by his sous chefs, he paused by the pile of meat pies, sampled one, and exclaimed, "That a fine, fettled knish!"
Regards//Larry

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