Fetter
/ˈfɛtər/noun
A chain or shackle for the feet; a restraint.
Did you know?In medieval times, fetters were not just physical restraints; they were believed to have spiritual implications, binding not only the body but also the soul.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰedʰ-
“to bind or tie”
Old English
Old English
fetter
“a chain or shackle for the feet, used to bind prisoners”
Old French
Old French
fetre
“a chain or bond for the legs”
Middle English
Middle English
fetter
“a constraining bond or shackle”
Modern English
English
fetter
“a term for shackles or constraints, both physical and metaphorical”