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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FETTLE, n.¹, v.¹, adj. Also fettel (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.).

I. n. 1. Strength, vigour, condition. Orig. dial. but now common in St. Eng. in phrs. in good, bad, etc. fettle. Very freq., esp. in s.Sc., in phr. what fettle? = how are you? (m.Lth., Bwk., Kcb., Dmf., s.Sc. 1951). Also in n.Eng. dial.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 38:
His coots were dozn'd an' the fettle tint, Yet o' them of the raips was seen the dint.Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 118:
What fettle the day, laird? Are ye aboot your or'nar?Kcb. 1898 T. Murray Frae the Heather 89:
“What fettle the day?” began Sawners, “Are a' weel about yer fire-en'?”Dmf. 1915 D. J. Beattie Oor Gate-en' 4:
“What fettle!” “How ir'e, man!”em.Sc. 1920 J. Black Airtin' Hame 47:
Guid luck gang wi' the tinklers, We wish them best o' fettle.

2. A repair, a putting to rights. With up.Ags. 1896 A. Blair Rantin Robin 119:
The smith said he could gie't a fettle up again.

II. v. 1. tr. To put to rights, into good condition or working order, to mend, repair; to settle, arrange (Rnf., Dmf. 1825 Jam.; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; ne.Sc., Fif., m.Lth., Bwk., s.Sc. 1951). Also in Eng. dial. Often with up and rarely intr. with at. Also used in pass. sense. Also vbl.n. fettlin, a dressing-down, a "sorting".Rnf. 1807 R. Tannahill Poems 169:
The barrel was rustit as black as the grun, But he's taen't to the smiddy, an's fettled it rarely.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Miscellaneous Pieces 132:
Whare's your tongue, it winna fettle? What has clos'd your mou', Johnny.Dmf. 1834 Carlyle Letters (ed. Norton) II. 176:
At present I am so busy fettling up things!Abd. 1851 W. Anderson Rhymes 141:
He could trap hares an' rabbits, or sawmon could spear; . . . Or fettle at guns, either barrels or locks.m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 257:
A gie fettlin' she wad catched for her amous if it had been hersel' had haen a, the daein' o't.e.Dmf. 1894 J. Cunningham Broomieburn 44:
See if Tom can come an' fettle up the machine.Kcb. 1911 Crockett Rose of the Wilderness viii.:
It was Miss Rose that fettled the job!wm.Sc. 1937 W. Hutcheson Chota Chants 7:
I can stook and stack and bigg and thack, And fettle a gate or a stob.

2. To attend to, supply the wants of, feed and clothe. Also intr. with for.Sc.(E) 1879 P. H. Waddell Isaiah xli. 10:
I hae fettled, an' helpit yo brawlie.Lnk. 1904 I. F. Darling Songs from Silence 240:
Ye ne'er fettled me like the neer-dae-weel loon.Lnk. 1929 Scots Mag. (March) 455:
Wi' weans to fettle and sic folk to see In this big useless manse.Lnk. 1948 J. G. Johnston Come fish with me 117:
That is better than ony brocht-in buddie to fettle for ye and mak yer denner.

3. To set about, tackle a job with vigour (Dmf. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obsol.), to go ahead; to fall upon, to “go for” a person (Bwk.³ 1951). Also intr. with to, wi, or absol. In Eng. dial.Rxb. 1875 N. Elliott Nellie Macpherson 49:
Here's a fresh set for ye, an' ye can fettle on wi' them.Ayr. 1894 A. Laing Poems 124:
The cruel self-seekers then we'd fettle Wi' little din.Sc. 1897 “L. Keith” Bonnie Lady vii.:
Fettling to the work as if there were nothing by-common in an Inglis waiting on a Minto.s.Sc. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws xi.:
We'll need to fettle to if we're all to win safe away.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl. 43:
Nu boys, let's fettel him at wance.

4. To keep, fare, as regards health (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Bwk.³ 1951).Bwk. 1897 R. M. Calder Poems 237:
An' spier — Hoo the guid folks are fettlin the day.

III. adj. 1. Neat, well-made, trim (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Uls.² 1929; Ayr., Dmf. 1950); †well-fitted, exactly suitable (Rxb. 1825 Jam.); “short, applied to one who is low in stature, but well-knit” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.). Also adv.Ags. 1815 G. Beattie Poems (1882) 161:
A winsome strapper, trim and fettle.Abd. 1882 W. Forsyth Writings 17:
A little mair sic wark I trow, Wad mak ye fettle for yer trade.Ags. 1910 J. Lee Poems 43:
Thou muckle piece o' misshaped metal, Art thou for firin' aye as fettle.

2. “In good spirits” (Uls.² 1929).