Fetters
/ˈfɛt.ərz/noun
Chains or shackles used to restrain a person’s movement.
Did you know?In medieval times, fetters symbolized not just physical restraint but also the spiritual bondage of sin and guilt in many religious contexts.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pet-
“to spread out, to extend, to stretch”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πενθός (penthos)
“grief, deep sorrow, often linked to restraint and limitation”
Old English
Anglo-Saxon
feter
“a chain or shackle for restraining feet or hands”
Middle English
Middle English
fettren
“to bind or restrain with chains”
Modern English
English
fetters
“plural form referring to shackles or restraints, both physical and metaphorical.”