Secured or fastened with a cotter pin, or relating to a cottage dweller or peasant.
The mechanical sense comes from cotter + -ed (having been modified), while the social sense comes from cotter (peasant) + -ed. Both forms emerged in the 19th century.
A 'cottered wheel' is mechanically secure because of one tiny pin, while a 'cottered person' was socially secure knowing they had housing—both meanings speak to stability!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.