Fetch v.

Forms: 1 feccan, fæccan, 2 feccean, 2–4 fec(c)hen, 3 Orm. fecchenn, 3–5 fechchen, south. vechchen, (3 fæchen, fechin, 4 fec(c)hyn, 5 fetchyn), 4–6 fec(c)he, south. vecche, 4–5 fech, foc(c)he, 5–6 fac(c)h(e, south. vacche, (4 fochche), 3–6 fetche(n, fatche, (5 fotche), 9 dial. fatch, vetch, Sc. fesh, 6– fetch. Pa. t. 3 fæhte, 5 feight(e, 8 fought, Sc. fush, 6– fetched. [OE. fecc(e)an; according to Platt (Anglia, VI.) and Sievers an altered form of fetian (see FET v.), the originally syllabic i having, it is supposed, become consonantal, and the resulting combination (ty) having developed into the closely resembling sound expressed by cc, i.e., either the geminated palatal stop, or something between this and its mod. representative. Cf. OE. orceard orchard from ort-ȝeard.

  Although no other instance is known in which the change of ti into cc has occurred, the correctness of the explanation is strongly supported by the fact that in OE. the forms with cc are confined to those parts of the vb. in which the regular conjugation of fetian has an i. Thus fetian, fetie, fetiað gave place to feccan, fecce, feccað, but feta, fetast, fetað remained unchanged.]

  I.  1. trans. To go in quest of, and convey or conduct back. The first part of the notion is often additionally expressed by go or come.

  a.  with obj. a person or animal.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. xlii. 34. Þæt ȝe þisne eowerne broþur feccon.

a. 1123.  O. E. Chron., an. 1121. He his dohter let feccean.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 75. Wanne þu lest wenst deað cumeॠ to fecchende þe.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 368. He wule … uechchen hire allunge to him to glorie buten ende.

a. 1400[?].  Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.), I. 199.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 732. Þey wolden þ^t theffe ouȝt fache.

1535.  Coverdale, 1 Sam. xvii. 31. Saul … caused him [Dauid] be fetched.

1588.  Shaks., Tit. A., II. iii. 53.

1632.  J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 104. The Frigat … went to fetch her aboord.

1747.  Hoadley, Susp. Husb., I. i. The Devil fetch me, Child, you look’d so prettily, that I could not mind one words you said.

1771.  Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 30. There were some small boats and we called to them to fetch us.

1845.  E. Holmes, Mozart, 17. We are everywhere fetched and sent back in the carriages of the nobility.

1845.  S. Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., II. 83. Tast used to preach, escorted to and from the place of meeting by his hearers, who went armed to fetch him and conduct him home.

  b.  with obj. a thing.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxiv. 17. Ne ga he nyðyr þat he æniȝ þing on his huse fecce.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 8633.

c. 1205.  Lay., 17305.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2889. Hem-seluen he fetchden ðe chaf.

c. 1340.  Cursor Mundi, 8716 (Fairf.). He bad ga focche his brande.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 1346, Dido.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 4098.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., 109.

c. 1511.  1st Eng. Bk. Amer. (Arb.), Introd., p. xxvii. They take much fysshe for they can goen vnder the water and fe[t]che so the fysshes out of the water.

1546.  Ludlow Churchw. Acc. (Camden), 26. For the hire of a horse to fache the rope for the chymes, viij d.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., IV. i. 213.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., X. 477. Is he dead, O fie villanes goe fetch me Wine, which they powred in my mouth, regayning thereby a slender sparke of breath.

1697.  Dampier, Voy., I. xv. 412. Our Guide made a great many signs for us to fetch and to leave some of our meat there, and seemed very importunate; but we refused.

1722.  De Foe, Moll Flanders (1840), 46. Dear sister, says he, I am very lazy, do step and fetch my flute, it lies in such a drawer, naming a place where he was sure it was not, that she might be a little while a looking for it.

1809.  E. A. Kendall, Trav., II. xlvii. 150. The conquest so far effected, the boy had staid by his fish, to frustrate his efforts to escape, till escape had become quite impossible; and he had then gone home (a distance of a mile) to fetch a knife.

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., ii. The first cab had been fetched from the public-house.

  † c.  To steal. Obs.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. IV. 51. Bothe my gees & my grys · his gadelynges feccheth.

1622.  Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, V. i.

  d.  To fetch and carry: lit. chiefly of dogs (cf. CARRY 2); fig. to run backwards and forwards with news, tales, etc. Hence (nonce-wd.) fetch-and-carry adj., tale-bearing.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 274. Her Masters-maid … hath more qualities then a Water-Spaniell … Imprimis, Shee can fetch and carry.

1696.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3229/4. A brown Gelding … will fetch and carry like a Dog.

1770.  Foote, Lame Lover, II. Wks. 1799, II. 80. Miss is so fond of fetching and carrying.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), V. 226. A raven … may be taught to fetch and carry like a spaniel.

1818.  Scott, Hrt. Midl., xlix. That fetch-and-carry tell-tale.

1871.  B. Taylor, Faust (1875), I. xii. 145.

  2.  To cause to come, as by a summons or constraining force; to succeed in bringing; to draw forth, elicit (e.g., blood, tears, etc.). Now rare.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 341.

1552.  Huloet, Fetche by callinge, accerso.

1553.  Bale, Vocacyon, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), I. 348. They can fatch their frendes sowles from flaminge purgatory.

1580.  Sidney, Arcadia, IV. (1590), 427. Shee … with a pitiful cry fetched his eyes unto her.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., Induct. ii. 48.

1621.  Bp. Hall, Heaven upon Earth, § 4. An vnwonted extremitie of the blow shall fetch blood of the soule.

1622.  Sparrow, Bk. Com. Prayer (1661), 119. A new Star appeared which declared his Glory and Deity so plainly, that it fetcht the Sages of the East to come and worship him.

1691.  Ray, Creation (1714), 228. Putting the Nipples of his Breasts into its Mouth, invited it to suck, which the Infant did, and after divers times drawing, fetch’d some Milk.

1697.  Dampier, Voy., I. xvi. 442. The way of fetching Fire out of Wood.

1733.  Pope, Ess. Man, III. 221.

1821.  Clare, The Village Minstrel, I. 25, xlv.

1862.  Thackeray, Four Georges, ii. The great bell fetches us into a parlor.

  b.  To make (the butter) ‘come’ by churning.

1853.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XIV. I. 74. The old barrel-churn, properly warmed, however, will fetch it [butter] in cold weather in a quarter of an hour.

1844.  W. Barnes, Poems Rural Life, Dorset Dial., A Witch, 21.

  c.  To fetch the water, and (hence) to fetch the pump: to obtain a flow of water by ‘priming.’

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), Charger la pompe, to fetch the pump.

c. 1790.  Imison, Elements of Science and Art, I. 170. Water is commonly poured thereon down the pipe, vulgarly called fetching the water.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Fetching the pump.

  † d.  To restore to consciousness; = 12 b. Obs.

1621.  Lady M. Wroth, Urania, 493. She … then fainted againe, and againe they fetched her.

1728.  Gay, Begg. Op., I. viii. Polly. Give her another glass, sir; my mamma drinks double the quantity whenever she is in this way. This, you see, fetches her.

1744.  Much Ado, in S. Fielding’s Lett. D. Simple (1752), II. 185. She is coming, Madam, to herself—I believe we have fetched her.

  3.  Of a commodity: To ‘bring in,’ realize, sell for (a certain price). † Also rarely of money: To purchase, procure (commodities).

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn, II. 48 b. As money will fetch all other commodities, so this knowledge is that which should purchase all the rest.

1695.  Locke, Further Consid. Value of Money (ed. 2), 103. During such a state, Silver in the Coin will never fetch as much as the Silver in Bullion.

1752.  Foote, Taste, I. 3. How went the Pictures? The Guido, what did that fetch?

1832.  Ht. Martineau, Homes Abroad, iv. 57. His land, though not of the very first quality, was good enough to have fetched 15s. per acre.

1878.  Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 357–8. ‘Sardinians for sale,’ was the sorry jest which rose to people’s lips when they saw a batch of these wretched creatures landed at Ostia, or exposed for what little they could fetch in the Roman Forum.

  4.  To move to interest, admiration, or goodwill by some happy contrivance or telling feature; to attract irresistibly. Also absol. to ‘take,’ attract, be telling or effective. Not in dignified use.

1605.  B. Jonson, Volpone, I. ii.

1607.  Dekker, Westw. Hoe! II. ii. Earl. Ha! Bird. O, I thought I should fetch you.

1708.  Mrs. Centlivre, Busie Body, I i. Wks. 1872, II. 64. If thou’rt in Love with two hundred, Gold will fetch ’em.

1819.  L. Hunt, Indicator, No. 2 (1822), I. 10. It is a venerable piece of earthenware…. It will fetch his imagination more than ever it fetched potter or penny-maker.

1882.  Besant, All Sorts, xxx. You shall be my assistant: you shall play the piano and come on dressed in a pink costoom, which generally fetches at an entertainment.

1886.  J. K. Jerome, Idle Thoughts (1889), 109. Don’t forget to say that the child has got its father’s nose. This ‘fetches’ the parents (if I may be allowed a vulgarism) more than anything.

  † 5.  To go and receive; to obtain, get (an object of pursuit); to ‘come by’ (one’s death). Obs.

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 222. Ich elches worldes wele þer me mahte feche.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 187. Manie mannisshe folgeden ure drihte … sume to fechen at him here hele.

c. 1205.  Lay., 6460.

c. 1340.  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 395.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. IX. 169.

1489–90.  Plumpton Corr. (1839), 91. Fech your pardon and my ladyes.

a. 1555.  Latimer, Serm. & Rem. (1845), 179. They [papists] say Christ sent this man unto the priest to fetch there his absolution.

1656.  Waller, Panegyric to Cromwell, iv.

  b.  colloq. To obtain, ‘take out’ (a court summons, etc.) against a person. Also To fetch law of: to bring an action against.

1832.  Examiner, 412/2. They were better pleased at what they had done than if they had ‘fetched law’ of him.

  6.  To draw, derive, ‘borrow’ from a source, esp. from one more or less remote. Const. from or out of. Now rare.

1552.  Huloet, Fetche out of boke, depromere.

a. 1568.  Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 72. Italie now is not that Italie that it was wont to be: and therfore now not so fitte a place, as some do counte it, for yong men to fetch either wisedome or honestie from thence.

1591.  G. Fletcher, Russe Commw. (Hakluyt Soc.), 8. The eight [river] Ocka, that fetcheth his head from the borders of the Chrim, and streameth into Volgha.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., I. ii. 21.

1631.  J. Weever, Ancient Funerall Monuments, 277. An vsuall fashion in former times fetched from the French, which they call rebus, or name-deuises.

1651.  R. Child, in Hartlib’s Legacy (1655), 11. I desire not to fetch Causes afar off, and to tell you of the sad Conjunctions of Mars and Saturn.

1655.  Culpepper, Riverius, XIII. i. 363. The Cure of this Disease, you must fetch … from the Chapter treating thereof.

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 321, 8 March, ¶ 13. He [Milton] fetched this beautiful Circumstance from the Iliad and Æneid.

1806–7.  J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), I. v. Concl. To fetch a parallel case out of Roman History.

1871.  R. H. Hutton, Ess. (1877), I. 37. A so-called ‘equivalent’ for concrete fact, which, like dry colours scraped off a picture, has indeed been fetched out of actual existence, but which no power could ever constitute into it again.

  † b.  To derive as from a cause or origin; to infer (an argument, conclusion). Obs.

1567.  J. Maplet, A Greene Forest, or a Naturall Historie, 27. The thirde difference is fetched from their tast or sauor.

1625.  Burges, Pers. Tithes, 2. Nor to fetch any Argument from that Tenet to proue the point in hand.

1662.  Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., I. iii. § 3. That they were the more Eastern Chaldæans, which he [Scaliger] hath fetcheth from the signification of the word.

1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., I. ix. 20. From the indignation [of the Pylorus] he fetches the cause of the Palsie.

1691.  Ray, Creation (1701), 251. Some fetch an Argument of Providence from the variety of Lineaments in the Faces of Men.

  † c.  To deduce (the origin of); to derive (a pedigree, etc.). To fetch far or higher: to find a distant or higher origin for. Also absol. Obs.

1553.  Bale, Vocacyon, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), I. 355. To fatch this thinge from the first foundacion.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 4 b. As farre as I can fetche my petigree, all my Auncestours were occupiers of husbandry.

1581.  Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., II. (1586), 99 b. By the example of Lysimachus … Yea, and without fetching so farre, wee see [etc.].

1635.  N. R., Camden’s Hist. Eliz., II. 113. Touching this Rebellion (to fetch the matter a little higher).

1662.  Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., I. i. § 11. Many great Families when they had run up their Genealogies so high that they could go no further, they fetched their pedegree from the Gods.

  † d.  To derive (a word) etymologically. Obs.

1605.  R. Carew, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 100. Some [words] are directlie fetched from the latine.

1605.  Camden, Rem. (1657), 75. I rather would fetch Hoel from Hælius.

1680.  Morden, Geog. Rect. (1685), 43. The more Iudicious fetch their Name from the Bay or Strait of the Sea called by Mela Sinus Codanus.

  7.  To draw, get, take (breath, † a breathing); now rare. Hence by extension, To heave (a sigh); to utter (a groan, scream); to drain (a draught).

1552.  Huloet, Fetche breath or winde, prospiro.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, Asthma, a disease, when … a man can hardely fetch his breathe.

1580.  Sidney, Arcadia, III. (1590), 276. Damœtas … had fetched many a sower breathed sigh.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 293. The Horse will continually pant, and fetch his breath short, which will come very hot out at his nose.

1632.  J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 106. The sicke woman … (fetching a deepe sigh) return’d her this answer.

1691.  G. Emilianne, Observations, 248. They drink in good earnest, and fetch the greatest Draughts they can.

1707.  J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks. (1709), 53. Fetching such dreadful Groans.

1735.  Ld. G. Lyttelton, Letter fr. a Persian (1744), 132. At the Sight of the Face she fetch’d a Scream, and fell upon the Body in a Swoon.

1748.  J. Mason, Elocut., 24. You are not to fetch your Breath (if it can be avoided) till you come to the Period or Full Stop; but a discernable Pause is to be made at every one, according to its proper Quantity or Duration.

1802.  T. Beddoes, Hygëia, vii. 62. The child fell into the most violent fits of crying, and its mother, on her return, found it quite altered. The face was almost black, and it was still fetching deep sobs.

1840.  Dickens, Barn. Rudge, xxii. ‘Very good,’ said Mr. Tappertit, fetching a long breath.

1875.  W. D. Howells, Foregone Concl., 144. The girl, who had listened with her proud looks transfigured to an aspect of grieving pity, fetched a long sigh.

  b.  absol. (See quot.)

1855.  Robinson, Whitby Gloss., To Fetch, painfully to draw in the breath. ‘I have a fetch and a catch,’ a pain or stitch in breathing.

  8.  To deal, strike (a blow); to make (a stroke). Now chiefly colloq. † To fetch a fetch: to try a stratagem.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 1156.

1559.  Mirr. Mag., Jas. I Scotl., iii.

1611.  Bible, Deut. xix. 5. His hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut downe the tree, and the head slippeth from the helue, and lighteth vpon his neighbour that he die.

1664.  E. Bushnell, Compl. Shipwright, 68. To fetch a stroake with the Oares.

1678.  Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 72. Apollyon was fetching of his last blow.

1865.  Punch, XLIX. 228. Fetch ’im [a donkey] a good whack ’ith your rumbereller!

1888.  Sheffield Gloss., s.v. I’ll fetch thee a nope [knock].

  † b.  Hence, To ‘have at,’ reach, strike (a person).

1556.  J. Heywood, Spider & F., lvii. Bb j b.

1608.  Shaks., Per., II. i. 17. I’ll fetch thee with a wannion.

1625.  Bacon, Ess., Vicissitude (Arb.), 575. The Conditions of Weapons, and their Improuement are; First, the Fetching a farre of.

  9.  To make or perform (a movement); to take (a walk, run, leap, etc.). Of a river; To make (a turn, winding, etc.). Obs. exc. arch.

1530.  Palsgr., 548/2. I fetche a gambolde or a fryske in daunsyng.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., V. i. 71.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 108. Concerning the riuer Maeander, it issueth out of a lake at the foot of the mountain Aulocrene: and passing vnder many townes, and filled still with as many riuers running into it, it fetcheth such windings to and fro, that oftentimes it is taken for to run back againe from whence it came.

1611.  Beaum. & Fl., Maid’s Trag., III. i. She … did fetch so still a sleep.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., V. 205. I would often fetch a walke, to stretch my legs.

1669.  Dryden, Tyrannic Love, IV. ii.

1700.  Congreve, Way of World, IV. iv. If so be that I might not be troublesome, I would have fought a walk with you.

1758.  Mrs. Delany, Autobiog. (1861), III. 508. According to the country phrase, yesterday Sally and I ‘fetched a charming walk.’

1759.  B. Martin, Nat. Hist. Eng., I. 213. From hence the River fetches a large Winding.

1762.  Sterne, Tr. Shandy, V. xxix. Suddenly, in the same posture wherein he was, he fetched a gambol upon one foot, and turning to the left hand, failed not to carry his body perfectly round, just into his former position, without missing one jot.

1795.  Jemima, I. 105. They are all … gone to fetch an airing.

1829.  Southey, Corresp. with C. Bowles (1881), 181. But I do not neglect the body; and as the sun shines just now, which he is little in the habit of doing, I shall make up my despatches (put my clogs to the fire meantime), and, in vulgar English, fetch a walk.

1859.  Thackeray, Virgin. (1879), I. 364. Mr. Warrington was gone to bed—was gone to fetch a walk in the moonlight.

  b.  Phrases. ̸ To fetch one’s birr, course, feeze (see BIRR 2, COURSE sb. 11, FEEZE sb. 1 b); to fetch a circuit: see CIRCUIT 3 d; to fetch a compass: see COMPASS sb. 11 d.

1535.  [see COMPASS sb. 11 d].

1547.  J. Harrison, Exhort. Scottes, 213. Afore I will stirre that vnsauery sinke of treson and trecherie, as one that intendeth to make a greate lepe, I muste bee forced to ronne back to fetche my course.

1547, 1551.  [see CIRCUIT 3 d].

1552.  Huloet, Fetche a compasse in speakinge, ambagio.

1621.  Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. III. A long-winged hawk, when he is first whistled off the fist, mounts aloft, and for his pleasure fetcheth many a circuit in the air.

1653.  Milton, Hirelings, Wks. (1851), 384. Train’d up in the church only by the Scripture, and in the original languages thereof at school; without fetching the compass of other Arts and Sciences, more than what they can well learn at secondary leisure, and at home.

1722.  De Foe, Plague (1754), 147. Leaving Stepney, they fetched a long Compass. Ibid., 16. My Brother, who went away to Darking in Surry, and afterwards fetch’d a Round farther into Buckinghamshire, or Bedfordshire, to a Retreat he had found out there for his Family.

1814.  Scott, Wav., lxii. To avoid the risk of being stopped and questioned in a place where he was so likely to be recognized, he fetched a large circuit, altogether avoiding the hamlet.

1837, a. 1847.  [see COMPASS sb. 11 d].

1859.  Tennent, Ceylon, II. VIII. iv. 350. The corral being prepared, the beaters address themselves to drive in the elephants. For this purpose it is often necessary to fetch a circuit of many miles in order to surround a sufficient number.

1883.  W. D. Howells, A Woman’s Reason, in Century Mag., XXVI., Oct., 907/1. If he had fetched a compass of the whole [island], he would have walked less than two miles.

  10.  Naut. (see also branch II). a. To arrive at, come to, reach; to come up with (a vessel).

1556.  W. Towrson, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1589), 98. It was the 14 day of October before we could fetch Dartmouth.

1693.  Lond. Gaz., No. 2888/3. After the Enemy had fetched them [ships].

1748.  Anson’s Voy., II. ii. 129. The Gloucester had already spent a month in her endeavours to fetch the bay, and she was now no farther advanced than at the first moment she made the Island.

1795.  Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), II. 13. We could have fetched the Sans Culotte.

1835.  Marryat, Jac. Faithf., viii. You’ll not fetch the bridges this tide.

1880.  Mrs. Parr, Adam & Eve, I. v. 125–6. He was washed ashore one Christmas Eve in th’ arms of a poor nigger-black, who never fetched the shore alive.

  transf. and fig.  1637.  Rutherford, Lett., lxxxiii. (1863), I. 212. I know that your Lordship hath not so learned Christ; but that ye intend to fetch heaven, suppose that your father were standing in your way, and to take it with the wind on your face.

1667.  Milton, P. L., VIII. 137.

  b.  To get into (the wake of a vessel); to get into the course or current of (the wind). ? Obs.

1630.  R. Johnson, Relations of the Most Famous Kingdoms, etc., 239. Outward they touch to take in fresh water, and fetch the wind.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. 19. The Chase is about, come fetch her wack, and we will be about after her.

1671.  R. Bohun, Disc. Wind, 90. They should make a circuit without the Tropicks, to fetch their Western Winds.

1748.  Anson’s Voy., III. viii. 377. About noon the Commodore was little more than a league distant from the galeon, and could fetch her wake, so that she could not now escape.

  c.  To fetch headway or sternway: ‘said of a vessel gathering motion ahead or astern’ (Adm. Smyth).

  d.  To fetch way: to move or shift (from the proper place); to break loose. Cf. 13.

1670.  Narborough, Jrnl., in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1711), 113. I was much afraid that I should lose my Main-mast, it fetched such Way, and broke the Spikes that fastned the Fetches with working.

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789). Le mât Joue, The mast fetches way.

1800.  Naval, Chron., IV. 55. A shot has fetched way in the gun.

1840.  Marryat, Poor Jack, xxiii. The upper part of the cargo fetched way a little, for it was loosely stowed.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., To fetch way: said of a gun or anything which escapes from its place by the vessel’s motion at sea.

  e.  intr. To take a course; to reach a specified position, bring one’s vessel up.

1586.  Marlowe, 1st Pt. Tamburl., III. iii. 252.

1669.  Narborough, Jrnl., in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1711), 8. There’s but two points of Land by which a man may fetch into any part of the Bay.

1772–84.  Cook, Voy. (1790), V. 1811. We stood over to Cape Elizabeth, under which we fetched at about five in the afternoon.

1836.  Marryat, Midsh. Easy, xiii. 70. He … tacked in shore and fetched well to windward of the low point. Ibid. (1839), Phant. Ship, xix. The Dort … tacked, and fetched alongside of the frigate.

1883.  J. D. J. Kelly, The Modern Yacht, in Harper’s Mag., Aug. 447/2. A boat … with ability to fetch to windward and to run free.

  † f.  To fetch of, upon: to gain upon. Obs.

1659.  D. Pell, Impr. Sea, 312. Our ships … fetching abundantly of them.

1693.  Lond. Gaz., No. 2888/2. The Admiral … of the Blue … fetching very fast upon us.

  II.  Idiomatically combined with advs. (For non-specialized comb., see the simple senses and the advs.)

  † 11.  Fetch about. a. trans. In sense 9, 9 b, To fetch about a compass, to fetch a way about. Hence with ellipsis of object: To take a roundabout course or method. † Also refl. in same sense.

1551.  Robinson, More’s Utop., II. (Arb.), 72. Which fetcheth about a circuite or compasse of v. c. miles.

c. 1585.  R. Browne, Answ. Cartwright, 6. What neede hee haue fetched about and made suche adoo.

1595.  Shaks., John, IV. ii. 25.

1607.  Tourneur, Revenger’s Trag., IV. i. You fetch about well, but lets talke in present.

1625.  Bacon, Ess., Cunning (Arb.), 441. It is strange, how long some Men will lie in wait, to speake somewhat, they desire to say; And how farre about they will fetch; And how many other Matters they will beat ouer, to come neare it.

1650.  W. Brough, Sacr. Princ. (1659), 551. That change your Wayes, as Ecebolius did Religions, Tacking and fetching your selves about as the Wind serves, for Persecution or Preferment?

1825.  Mrs. Sherwood, Young Forester, in Houlston Tracts, I. II. 5. Fetching a way about, in order that his brothers might not trace his steps.

  b.  To swing round (the arm, a weapon) so as to gather impetus for a stroke. Also intr. for refl.

1609.  Bible (Douay), 1 Kings xvii. 49. Fetching it [the sling] about [he] stroke the Philistian in the forehead.

1674.  N. Fairfax, A Treatise of the Bulk and Selvedge of the World, 122. The spring asking some minutes time to gather strength enough (as the arm does by fetching about) to give a start or least stirring.

  † c.  To contrive, devise, plan. Obs.

1611.  Bible, 2 Sam. xiv. 20. To fetch about this forme of speech hath thy seruant Ioab done this thing.

1667.  H. More, Divine Dialogues, I. xxvii. (1713), 56. This is cunningly fetch’d about.

  12.  Fetch again. † a. trans. To take or get back; to recoup, make good. Obs.

1535.  Coverdale, 2 Sam. viii. 3. He wente to fetch his power agayne.

1614.  Bp. Hall, A Recollection of such Treatises, 917. Now when God had fetcht againe all the life which he had given to his vnworthy creatures, and reduced the world vnto his first form wherin waters were ouer the face of the earth, it was time for a renouation of all things to succeede this destruction.

1617.  Hieron, Wks. (1619–20), II. 251. Ere a man shall bee able to fetch againe those losses which he hath receyued in spirituall things.

  † b.  To revive, restore to consciousness. Obs.

1601.  Bp. W. Barlow, Serm. Paules Crosse, 49. Little paynes to to fetch her againe.

1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 694 (1627), 174. For Smells, wee see their great and sudden Effect in fetching Men againe, when they swoune.

1669.  Bunyan, Holy Citie, 252. Revivings, that, (like Aquavitæ) do fetch again, and chear up the soul.

  13.  Fetch away. intr. To move or shift from its proper place; to get loose. Cf. 10 d.

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789). Chock, a … wedge used to confine a cask … to prevent it from fetching away when the ship is in motion.

1807.  Sporting Mag., XXX. June, 123/1. We fetch way, and are tossed to the farthest side of the cabin, in all the odd and uncommon figures that can be imagined.

1853.  Kane, Grinnell Exp., xx. (1856), 152. Every thing on deck, even anchors and quarter-boats, have ‘fetched away,’ and the little cabin is half afloat.

1890.  W. C. Russell, Ocean Trag., II. xxi. 181–2. The yacht was down to it, bowed to her bulwark rail, every blessed article on the breakfast table fetching away with a hideous crash upon the deck.

  14.  Fetch down, trans. = bring down (BRING v. 18), but more colloquial and expressive of vigorous action, a. To bring to the ground by a shot or a blow. b. To force down (prices, etc.).

1705.  Bosman, Guinea, xvii. 319. I should be loth from hence to advise any Person rashly to fire at an Elephant, since this vast number of Shot which were thundred at him were not sufficient to fetch him down.

1726.  Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, 155. I levell’d all at Hamet, and he the same at me. At last I had the good Fortune to fetch him down.

1801.  Windham, Sp. (1812), II. 30. There were but few whom they were able to fetch down at a blow.

1841.  R. B. Peake, Court & City, I. iii. The late war has fetched down the price of women! the whole nation is overrun with petticoats! our daughters lie on our hands, Master Bearbinder!—girls are drugs, Sir, mere drugs!

1879.  R. H. Elliot, Written on Foreheads, I. 7. Fetching down the young rooks from the tree tops.

  15.  Fetch in. † a. trans. To gain for an adherent. Obs.

1614.  Bp. Hall, A Recollection of such Treatises, 248. All the powers and craft of hell cannot fetch him in for a customer to euill; His infirmitie may yeeld once, his resolution neuer.

1647–8.  Cotterell, Davila’s Hist. Fr. (1678), 13. Like dexterity and like artifices were used to fetch in the rest.

  † b.  To close in upon, surround; to enclose, take in. Also to include (in one’s voyage).

1563.  Golding, Cæsar (1565), 68. They fetched in on euery syde and slew those that stoode in good hope and possibility of wynning theyr Campe.

1594.  Blundevil, Exerc., V. (ed. 7), 565. He did leaue to sayle any further towardes the North, by reason of the great colde there, and turning to the South did fetch in all the sea coastes vntill hee came to Capo Razo.

1670–98.  Lassels, Voy. Italy, I. 65. All along one side of this Garden stands a Cage of Iron, about a hundred paces long, and so high that it fetcheth in a world of Laurel and other Trees, clad with chirping Birds of several sorts.

  † c.  To ‘take in’; cheat. Obs.

1592.  Greene, Upst. Courtier, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), II. 242. They were all fethered of one winge to fetch in young gentlemen.

1612.  Rowlands, More Knaues Yet? 33.

  16.  Fetch off. † a. To bring out of a difficulty; to deliver, rescue. Cf. bring off. Obs.

1648.  Jenkyn, Blind Guide, i. 16. This hereticall and rediculous soul fetcheth off himself thus.

1650.  R. Stapylton, Strada’s The History of the Low-Countrey Warres, III. 62. The whole Market-place made a hideous noise, and suddenly strove to fetch off the prisoners, casting stones at the Officers.

  † b.  To ‘do’ or ‘do for’; to get the better of; to make an end of. Obs.

1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., III. ii. 324. As I returne, I will fetch off these Iustices.

1613.  Notorious Cousnages of J. & A. West, vi. She hath fetcht off Usurers and Misers, as finely as they fetch off young heires.

1618.  in Gutch, Coll. Cur. (1781), II. 423. My Lord of Essex was fetcht off by a trick.

1633.  Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit., lxxvii. 190. What fine devises they have found out, to murder afar off; to slay many at once; and so to fetch off lives.

1653.  H. More, Antid. Ath., III. xi. (1712), 122. We may add a third [Question], which may haply better fetch off the other two.

  † c.  To drain, drink off (a draught). Cf. 7. Obs.

1657.  W. Rand, trans. Gassendi’s Life of Peiresc, II. 99. He fetcht off the Lusty Bowle of wine. Ibid., II. 137. Novellius Torquatus … is reported to have fetcht off at one draught … three Congii or Roman Gallons of wine.

  17.  Fetch out. To draw forth; to bring into clearness; to develop and display.

1644.  Milton, Educ. These ways would try all their peculiar gifts of Nature, and if there were any secret excellence among them would fetch it out.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 215, 6 Nov., ¶ 1. I consider an human soul without education, like marble in the quarry, which shews none of its inherent beauties, till the skill of the polisher fetches out the colours, makes the surface shine, and discovers every ornamental cloud, spot, and vein, that runs through the body of it.

1847.  L. Hunt, Jar Honey, x. (1848), 134. The great vindication of evil is, that (constituted as we are) we could not know so much joy, nor manifest so much virtue without it; and certainly, in instances like these, it fetches out, under circumstances of the extremest weakness, the most beautiful strength of the human heart.

  18.  Fetch over. † a. trans. To succeed in delivering (a blow). Obs.

a. 1640.  J. Ball, Answ. to Can, I. (1642), 119. He might fetch over a sure blow upon us.

  † b.  To get the better of. Obs.

c. 1600.  Day, Begg. Bednall Gr., II. ii. (1881), 35. ’Tis he that I fetch’d over for the sattin suite and left him in pawn for the reckoning.

1680.  R. L’Estrange, Colloq. Erasm., 199. They have fetch’d me over many and many a time.

  † c.  To go over; to repeat. Obs.

1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 606. What might be the cause why Isaac fetcht over the blessing the second time.

  19.  Fetch up. † a. trans. To bring to a higher level or position; to elevate, raise. Obs.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., IV. xv. 35.

1607–12.  Bacon, Ess., Seeming Wise (Arb.), 216. Hee fetched one of his browes vp to his forehead, and bent the other downe to his Chinne.

1704.  Addison, Italy (1705), 365. For as the Pope is himself a Master of Polite Learning, and a great Encourager of Arts, so at Rome any of these Arts immediately thrives under the Encouragement of the Prince, and may be fetch’d up to its Perfection in Ten or a Dozen Years, which is the Work of an Age or Two in other Countries, where they have not such excellent Models to form themselves upon. Ibid. (1711), Spect., No. 119, 17 July, ¶ 3. They have no sooner fetched themselves up to the fashion of the polite world, but the town has dropped them, and are nearer to the first state of nature, than to those refinements which formerly reigned in the court, and still prevail in the country.

  b.  To vomit. Also of a medicine, etc.: To promote expectoration of. Cf. bring up.

1599.  H. Buttes, Dyets drie Dinner, N iij b. Butter…. Cleanseth and mightily fetcheth vp fleame cloddered about the breast and lungs.

1622.  Massinger, Virg. Mart., V. i.

  c.  To recall (to the mind); to bring to light.

1614.  Bp. Hall, A Recollection of such Treatises, 454. To fetch vp olde wordes from forgetfulnesse, and a thousand other like points of idle skill; whiles the maine care of life and death is neglected!

1817.  Chalmers, Astron. Disc., iv. (1852), 93. The knowledge which he cannot fetch up himself from the obscurity of this wondrous but untravelled scene, by the exercise of any one of his own senses, might be fetched to him by the testimony of a competent messenger.

  † d.  To rouse or stir up (a horse). Obs.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Equus, To fetch vp with the spurre.

1573.  in Baret, Alv., F 401.

  † e.  To overthrow, ‘trip up.’ Obs.

1615.  T. Adams, Spir. Nauig., 43. The strongest Sampson has been fetched up by this wrastler.

  f.  To make up (lee way, lost ground, time, etc.).

1665.  J. Wilson, Projectors, I. Dram. Wks. (1874), 227. I shall have the custody of the parish stock. If that will serve you, command it; we shall be able, I hope, to fetch it up again before my time be out.

1709.  Stanhope, Paraphr., IV. 122. Late penitents, when truly and effectually such, will double their diligence, fetch up the time they have lost, and by an uncommon piety and zeal, testify the sincerity of their conversion, and the thankful esteem they have of it.

1741.  Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. 122. Getting up pretty early, I have written thus far, while Mrs Jewkes lies snoring in bed, fetching up her last night’s disturbance.

1794.  T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), IV. 112. The time is coming when we shall fetch up the lee-way of our vessel.

1825.  Thomas Brown, in Houlston Tracts, I. xvi. 3. Thomas did not mind playing a day or two in the week, for … he knew he could easily fetch it up again.

1846.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., VII. II. 686. [They] have much lee way to fetch up.

  † g.  To come up with, overtake. Obs.

a. 1622.  R. Hawkins, Voy. S. Sea (1847), 179. Being out of hope to fetch up this shippe, we stood in with the cape.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. 14. The Moon must go longer 2 days, 4 ho. 36 min. nearest, more than her natural Motion, before she can fetch up the Sun, to come into Conjunction with her.

1692.  R. L’Estrange, Fables, cxxxiii. Says he [the Hare], I can fetch up the Tortoise when I please.

1751.  R. Paltock, P. Wilkins, I. v. 45. The next morning we found she was slunk away, but we fetched her up, and, hoisting French colours, fired a shot, which she not answering, our captain ran alongside of her, and fired a broadside.

  h.  Naut. To come or get to (a place); to reach; to come in sight of; (also To fetch up the sight of) to sail along. ? Obs.

1556.  W. Towrson, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1589), 108. It is hard to fetch upp a towne here if a shippe ouer shoote it.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., III. 96. As we fetched up the sight of Nicasia. Ibid., V. 181. We fetched up the coast of Cylicia. Ibid., IX. 398. We fetched up the little Ile of Strombolo.

  i.  intr. for refl. To come to a stand; to ‘pull up’; to stop.

1858.  Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls., V. 705. We go on voyages of discovery, and when in quest of any particular point, are likely enough to fetch up at some other.