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”

Example Sentences

"Right now Ginger is in a fine fettle, continuing to write songs that will be released under the guise of The Wildhearts and as solo projects in the future."

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

At the moment, you’re in fine fettle with a total of $2 million coverage.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 15, 2025

Steely Dan opened the concert with a sprightly set of jazz-wise pop that Donald Fagen, in seemingly fine fettle after a recent hospital stay, capped with a shout-out to his late creative partner, Walter Becker.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2024

Overall, markets go into Wednesday in pretty fine fettle.

From Reuters • Jun. 6, 2023

The Abel who was leaving was in better fettle, in all ways, than the Abel who had arrived in a hurricane, desperately clinging to a nail.

From "Abel's Island" by William Steig