ettle

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛtl/
• Rhymes: -ɛtl

Etymology 1

From Middle English etlien, atlien, from Old Norse ætla (“to think, mean, suppose, intend, purpose”), from Proto-Germanic *ahtalōną (“to strive, think”), from Proto-Indo-European *ok- (“to think, intend, purpose”). Cognate with regional Swedish ättla (“to count, reckon”). Some Middle English forms perhaps remodelled after Old English eaht.

Verb

ettle (third-person singular simple present ettles, present participle ettling, simple past and past participle ettled)

1. (transitive, now Scotland, Ireland, Northern England) To propose, intend. [from 12th c.]
2. (intransitive, now Scotland, Ireland, Northern England, now rare) To direct one's course, to head. [from 12th c.]
   • 1972, George Mackay Brown, Greenvoe, Polygon, published 2019, page 39:

     The Siloam nosed and ettled into the grey sprawl of waves and sent up arcs of swift stinging spray.

3. (intransitive, now Scotland, Ireland, Northern England) To direct (something) to or at someone or something; to aim at. [from 14th c.]
4. (intransitive, now Scotland, Ireland, Northern England) To strive, to try. [from 16th c.]

Derived terms

• ettling

Noun

ettle (plural ettles)

1. (dialectal, chiefly Scotland) Intention; intent; aim.

Synonyms

• mint

Etymology 2

A variation of addle (“to earn”).

Verb

ettle (third-person singular simple present ettles, present participle ettling, simple past and past participle ettled)

1. (obsolete) To earn.

Related terms

• ettlings

Anagrams

• tetel

Scots

Etymology

From Old Norse ætla.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛtl/

Verb

ettle (third-person singular simple present ettles, present participle ettlin, simple past ettle't, past participle ettle't)

1. to intend, mean
2. to try, attempt