How did the fettling knife get its name?

The term "fettling knife" is believed to have originated in the metalworking industry, specifically in foundry work.

Here's the breakdown:

* Fettling is a process that refers to cleaning and finishing rough castings. This includes removing excess metal, sand, and other imperfections from the surface of the casting.

* Knife refers to the specific tool used in this process, which is a specialized blade with a curved or angled shape.

Therefore, a "fettling knife" is a knife specifically designed for fettling, the process of finishing metal castings.

The term's origin likely reflects its function, with "fettling" describing the task and "knife" identifying the tool.