A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1541, 1596
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Fetter, Feter, n. Also pl. fetrys, fet(t)ris. [ME. fetter, feter, OE. feter, feotor.] A fetter. 1375 Barb. iv. 15.
Byschop Robert … thai stythly speryt Bath in fetrys and in presoune a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxviii. 100.
Scho … kissit the fetris that hyme band c1420 Wynt. iv. 134.
Withe quhat tormentis men mycht be Punysyde … As fetrys, … stokkys, boyis 1456 Hay I. 44/24.
The quhilk fand all thir maneris of irnis, cheynes, fettris, and boys, to prisoun men withall 1492 Acts Lords of Council 211/2.
A pare of fetteris, twa lokkis, and all the graith pertening to a pleuche a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 304.
He … Sett him in fetteris in ane dungeoun deep 1541 Reg. Privy S. II. 581/2.
That thai and ȝe … do justice upoun thame … and to that effect len to him ȝoure presonis, stokis, fetteris and all uthir thing is necessar tharto 1596 Dalr. II. 174/20.
That seing a possest persone … tha kaist him nocht in prisone and fettiris
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"Fetter n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/fetter_n>
