n. [ Back, a. + settler. ] One living in the back or outlying districts of a community. [ 1913 Webster ]

The English backsettlers of Leinster and Munster. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of mettle, that is, or fire or spirit. [ R. ] Llewellyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To unsettle. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of unsettling, or the state of being unsettled. Marvell. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Perh. the same word as addle to earn; bur cf. OE. atlien, etlien, to intend, prepare, Icel. ætla to think, suppose, mean. ] To earn. [ Obs. ] See Addle, to earn. Boucher. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of fettling. [ Prov. Eng. ] Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

In fine fettle, in good spirits. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OE. & Prov. E., to fettle (in sense 1), fettle, n., order, repair, preparation, dress; prob. akin to E. fit. See Fit, a. ] 1. To repair; to prepare; to put in order. [ Prov. Eng. ] Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Metal.) To cover or line with a mixture of ore, cinders, etc., as the hearth of a puddling furnace. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make preparations; to put things in order; to do trifling business. [ Prov. Eng. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having abundance of mettle; ardent; full of fire; as, a high-mettled steed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. ketel; cf. AS. cetel, cetil, cytel; akin to D. kjedel, G. kessel, OHG. chezzil, Icel. ketill, SW. kittel, Dan. kjedel, Goth. katils; all perh. fr. L. catillus, dim. of catinus a deep vessel, bowl; but cf. also OHG. chezzī kettle, Icel. kati small ship. ] A metallic vessel, with a wide mouth, often without a cover, used for heating and boiling water or other liguids. [ 1913 Webster ]

Kettle pins, ninepins; skittles. [ Obs. ] Shelton. --
Kettle stitch (Bookbinding), the stitch made in sewing at the head and tail of a book. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Mus.) A drum made of thin copper in the form of a hemispherical kettle, with parchment stretched over the mouth of it. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Kettledrums, in pairs, were formerly used in martial music for cavalry, but are now chiefly confined to orchestras, where they are called tympani. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An informal social party at which a light collation is offered, held in the afternoon or early evening. Cf. Drum, n., 4 and 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who plays on a kettledrum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ E. metal, used in a tropical sense in allusion to the temper of the metal of a sword blade. See Metal. ] Substance or quality of temperament; spirit, esp. as regards honor, courage, fortitude, ardor, etc.; disposition; -- usually in a good sense; as, to test a person's mettle. [ 1913 Webster ]

A certain critical hour which shall . . . try what mettle his heart is made of. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gentlemen of brave mettle. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The winged courser, like a generous horse,
Shows most true mettle when you check his course. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

To put one one's mettle, to cause or incite one to use one's best efforts. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having mettle; high-spirited; ardent; full of fire. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of spirit; possessing constitutional ardor; fiery; as, a mettlesome horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Met"tle*some*ly, adv. -- Met"tle*some*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Dull-spirited. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. netele; akin to D. netel, G. nessel, OHG. nezzïla, nazza, Dan. nelde, nälde, Sw. nässla; cf, Lith. notere. ] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Urtica, covered with minute sharp hairs containing a poison that produces a stinging sensation. Urtica gracilis is common in the Northern, and Urtica chamaedryoides in the Southern, United States. The common European species, Urtica urens and Urtica dioica, are also found in the Eastern united States. Urtica pilulifera is the Roman nettle of England. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The term nettle has been given to many plants related to, or to some way resembling, the true nettle; as:
Australian nettle, a stinging tree or shrub of the genus Laportea (as Laportea gigas and Laportea moroides); -- also called nettle tree. --
Bee nettle,
Hemp nettle, a species of Galeopsis. See under Hemp. --
Blind nettle,
Dead nettle, a harmless species of Lamium. --
False nettle (Baehmeria cylindrica), a plant common in the United States, and related to the true nettles. --
Hedge nettle, a species of Stachys. See under Hedge. --
Horse nettle (Solanum Carolinense). See under Horse. --
nettle tree. (a) Same as Hackberry. (b) See Australian nettle (above). --
Spurge nettle, a stinging American herb of the Spurge family (Jatropha urens). --
Wood nettle, a plant (Laportea Canadensis) which stings severely, and is related to the true nettles. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nettle cloth, a kind of thick cotton stuff, japanned, and used as a substitute for leather for various purposes. --
Nettle rash (Med.), an eruptive disease resembling the effects of whipping with nettles. --
Sea nettle (Zool.), a medusa. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nettled p. pr. & vb. n. Nettling ] To fret or sting; to irritate or vex; to cause to experience sensations of displeasure or uneasiness not amounting to violent anger. [ 1913 Webster ]

The princes were so nettled at the scandal of this affront, that every man took it to himself. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) the European whitethroat. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who nettles. [ R. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ See Knittle. ] (Naut.) (a) The halves of yarns in the unlaid end of a rope twisted for pointing or grafting. (b) Small lines used to sling hammocks under the deck beams. (c) Reef points. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. same as irritating, 1.
Syn. -- annoying, galling, chafing, irritating, pesky, pestiferous, pestilent, plaguy, plaguey, teasing, vexatious, vexing. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. One who settles at a distance, or away, from others. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To settle again. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To settle again, or a second time. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Act of settling again, or state of being settled again; as, the resettlement of lees. [ 1913 Webster ]

The resettlement of my discomposed soul. Norris. [ 1913 Webster ]

A jellyfish, or medusa. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Inborn mettle or courage; one's own temper. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. setel, setil, a seat, AS. setl: akin to OHG. sezzal, G. sessel, Goth. sitls, and E. sit. √154. See Sit. ] 1. A seat of any kind. [ Obs. ] “Upon the settle of his majesty” Hampole. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A bench; especially, a bench with a high back. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A place made lower than the rest; a wide step or platform lower than some other part. [ 1913 Webster ]

And from the bottom upon the ground, even to the lower settle, shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit. Ezek. xliii. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

Settle bed, a bed convertible into a seat. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Settled p. pr. & vb. n. Settling ] [ OE. setlen, AS. setlan. √154. See Settle, n. In senses 7, 8, and 9 perhaps confused with OE. sahtlen to reconcile, AS. sahtlian, fr. saht reconciliation, sacon to contend, dispute. Cf. Sake. ] 1. To place in a fixed or permanent condition; to make firm, steady, or stable; to establish; to fix; esp., to establish in life; to fix in business, in a home, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

And he settled his countenance steadfastly upon him, until he was ashamed. 2 Kings viii. 11. (Rev. Ver.) [ 1913 Webster ]

The father thought the time drew on
Of setting in the world his only son. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To establish in the pastoral office; to ordain or install as pastor or rector of a church, society, or parish; as, to settle a minister. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cause to be no longer in a disturbed condition; to render quiet; to still; to calm; to compose. [ 1913 Webster ]

God settled then the huge whale-bearing lake. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hoping that sleep might settle his brains. Bunyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To clear of dregs and impurities by causing them to sink; to render pure or clear; -- said of a liquid; as, to settle coffee, or the grounds of coffee. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To restore or bring to a smooth, dry, or passable condition; -- said of the ground, of roads, and the like; as, clear weather settles the roads. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To cause to sink; to lower; to depress; hence, also, to render close or compact; as, to settle the contents of a barrel or bag by shaking it. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To determine, as something which is exposed to doubt or question; to free from unscertainty or wavering; to make sure, firm, or constant; to establish; to compose; to quiet; as, to settle the mind when agitated; to settle questions of law; to settle the succession to a throne; to settle an allowance. [ 1913 Webster ]

It will settle the wavering, and confirm the doubtful. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. To adjust, as something in discussion; to make up; to compose; to pacify; as, to settle a quarrel. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. To adjust, as accounts; to liquidate; to balance; as, to settle an account. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. Hence, to pay; as, to settle a bill. [ Colloq. ] Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. To plant with inhabitants; to colonize; to people; as, the French first settled Canada; the Puritans settled New England; Plymouth was settled in 1620. [ 1913 Webster ]

To settle on or
To settle upon, (a) to confer upon by permanent grant; to assure to. “I . . . have settled upon him a good annuity.” Addison. (b) to choose; to decide on; -- sometimes with the implication that the choice is not ideal, but the best available. --
To settle the land (Naut.), to cause it to sink, or appear lower, by receding from it. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To fix; establish; regulate; arrange; compose; adjust; determine; decide. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To become fixed or permanent; to become stationary; to establish one's self or itself; to assume a lasting form, condition, direction, or the like, in place of a temporary or changing state. [ 1913 Webster ]

The wind came about and settled in the west. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chyle . . . runs through all the intermediate colors until it settles in an intense red. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To fix one's residence; to establish a dwelling place or home; as, the Saxons who settled in Britain. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To enter into the married state, or the state of a householder. [ 1913 Webster ]

As people marry now and settle. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To be established in an employment or profession; as, to settle in the practice of law. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To become firm, dry, and hard, as the ground after the effects of rain or frost have disappeared; as, the roads settled late in the spring. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To become clear after being turbid or obscure; to clarify by depositing matter held in suspension; as, the weather settled; wine settles by standing. [ 1913 Webster ]

A government, on such occasions, is always thick before it settles. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To sink to the bottom; to fall to the bottom, as dregs of a liquid, or the sediment of a reserveir. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. To sink gradually to a lower level; to subside, as the foundation of a house, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. To become calm; to cease from agitation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Till the fury of his highness settle,
Come not before him. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. To adjust differences or accounts; to come to an agreement; as, he has settled with his creditors. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. To make a jointure for a wife. [ 1913 Webster ]

He sighs with most success that settles well. Garth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being settled; confirmed state. [ R. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of setting, or the state of being settled. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) Establishment in life, in business, condition, etc.; ordination or installation as pastor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every man living has a design in his head upon wealth power, or settlement in the world. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) The act of peopling, or state of being peopled; act of planting, as a colony; colonization; occupation by settlers; as, the settlement of a new country. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) The act or process of adjusting or determining; composure of doubts or differences; pacification; liquidation of accounts; arrangement; adjustment; as, settlement of a controversy, of accounts, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) Bestowal, or giving possession, under legal sanction; the act of giving or conferring anything in a formal and permanent manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

My flocks, my fields, my woods, my pastures take,
With settlement as good as law can make. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

(e) (Law) A disposition of property for the benefit of some person or persons, usually through the medium of trustees, and for the benefit of a wife, children, or other relatives; jointure granted to a wife, or the act of granting it. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which settles, or is settled, established, or fixed. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) Matter that subsides; settlings; sediment; lees; dregs. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Fuller's earth left a thick settlement. Mortimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) A colony newly established; a place or region newly settled; as, settlement in the West. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) That which is bestowed formally and permanently; the sum secured to a person; especially, a jointure made to a woman at her marriage; also, in the United States, a sum of money or other property formerly granted to a pastor in additional to his salary. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) (a) The gradual sinking of a building, whether by the yielding of the ground under the foundation, or by the compression of the joints or the material. (b) pl. Fractures or dislocations caused by settlement. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) A settled place of abode; residence; a right growing out of residence; legal residence or establishment of a person in a particular parish or town, which entitles him to maintenance if a pauper, and subjects the parish or town to his support. Blackstone. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

Act of settlement (Eng. Hist.), the statute of 12 and 13 William III, by which the crown was limited to the present reigning house (the house of Hanover). Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who settles, becomes fixed, established, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Especially, one who establishes himself in a new region or a colony; a colonist; a planter; as, the first settlers of New England. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which settles or finishes; hence, a blow, etc., which settles or decides a contest. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A vessel, as a tub, in which something, as pulverized ore suspended in a liquid, is allowed to settle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A kettle in which water is boiled for making tea, coffee, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ 1st pref. un- + settle. ] To move or loosen from a settled position or state; to unfix; to displace; to disorder; to confuse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become unsettled or unfixed; to be disordered. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being unsettled. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of unsettling, or state of being unsettled; disturbance. J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. The vertebrae of the back. [ Prov. Eng. ] Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]