n. [ AS. fetor, feter; akin to OS. feterōs, pl., OD. veter, OHG. fezzera, Icel. fjöturr, L. pedica, Gr. pe`dh, and to E. foot. √ 77. See Foot. ] [ Chiefly used in the plural, fetters. ] 1. A chain or shackle for the feet; a chain by which an animal is confined by the foot, either made fast or disabled from free and rapid motion; a bond; a shackle. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ They ] bound him with fetters of brass. Judg. xvi. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything that confines or restrains; a restraint. [ 1913 Webster ]

Passion's too fierce to be in fetters bound. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fettered p. pr. & vb. n. Fettering. ] 1. To put fetters upon; to shackle or confine the feet of with a chain; to bind. [ 1913 Webster ]

My heels are fettered, but my fist is free. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To restrain from motion; to impose restraints on; to confine; to enchain; as, fettered by obligations. [ 1913 Webster ]

My conscience! thou art fettered
More than my shanks and wrists. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. An ornamental evergreen shrub (Pieris floribunda) of the Southeastern U. S. having small white bell-shaped flowers.
Syn. -- mountain fetterbush, mountain andromeda, Pieris floribunda. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. A showy evergreen shrub (Lyonia lucida) of the Southeastern U. S. with shiny leaves and angled branches and umbel-like clusters of pink to reddish flowers.
Syn. -- fetter bush, shiny lyonia, Lyonia lucida. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. (Zool.) Seeming as if fettered, as the feet of certain animals which bend backward, and appear unfit for walking. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who fetters. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Free from fetters. Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]