ettle

1 of 3

verb

et·​tle

ˈetᵊl

transitive verb

1

chiefly Scottish : intend, plan, design

2

chiefly Scottish : attempt, venture

3

chiefly Scottish : guess, suppose

intransitive verb

chiefly Scottish : aim, aspire, plan

ettle

2 of 3

noun (1)

"

plural -s

Scottish

: intent, purpose

ettle

3 of 3

noun (2)

"

plural -s

dialectal, England

: nettle

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English ettlen, atlen, from Old Norse ætla; akin to Old English eahtian to consider, estimate, watch over, eaht consideration, estimation, Old High German ahtōn to consider, believe, estimate, ahta consideration, attention, esteem, Gothic ahjan to believe, think, aha understanding, mind, Greek oknos hesitation, fear, and perhaps to Old English ēage eye

Noun (2)

by alteration (resulting from incorrect division of a nettle)

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1790, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1688, in the meaning defined above

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