FET'TER, noun 1. A chain for the feet; a chain by which an animal is confined by the foot, either made fast or fixed, as a prisoner, or impeded in motion and hindered from leaping, as a horse whose fore and hind feet are confined by a chain. The Philistines bound Samson with fetters of brass. Judges 16:21. 2. Any thing that confines or restrains from motion. Passions too fierce to be in fetters bound. FET'TER, verb transitive 1. To put on fetters; to shackle or confine the feet with a chain. 2. To bind; to enchain; to confine; to restrain motion; to impose restraints on. Fetter strong madness in a silken thread.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI