A worker in a foundry or factory who cleans, trims, and finishes metal castings or forgings, removing unwanted material and preparing them for use.
From 'fettle' plus the agent suffix '-er' to indicate a person who performs the action. This occupational term emerged during the Industrial Revolution when specialized factory workers performed specific finishing tasks.
Fettlers were essential in Victorian factories—they held the secret to whether your newly cast metal was garbage or gold, yet today almost nobody knows the job title! It's one of hundreds of skilled trades that disappeared with manufacturing.
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