mettle

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | 225 words | Copyright

mettle quality of temperament XVI; (of a horse) vigour, spirit; (of persons) XVI. In earliest use (late XVI) mettal(l), -ell, vars. of METAL, which began to be established as mettle in early XVII to distinguish the fig. uses.

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T. F. HOAD. "mettle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "mettle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-mettle.html

T. F. HOAD. "mettle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-mettle.html

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