An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Fessel
Fessel (1.), feminine, ‘fetter, chain, shackle,’ from Middle High German vęȥȥel, Old High German fęȥȥil, masculine, ‘band for fastening and holding the sword,’ then also ‘band, fetter’; Anglo-Saxon fętel, ‘sword-belt,’ Old Icelandic fetell, masculine, ‘band, bandage, sword-belt’; akin to root fat (see Faß, fassen), ‘to hold’?. The Modern High German has retained its general sense by taking the place of another Old Teutonic word for ‘fetter’; Middle High German vëȥȥer, feminine, ‘fetter, shackle for the foot,’ Old High German fëȥȥera, Old Saxon fëter, Anglo-Saxon fëter, English fetters (plural), Old Icelandic fjǫturr. These words, which are usually connected with Latin pedica, Greek πέδη, ‘fetter,’ Latin compes, and hence with the cognates of Modern High German Fuß, can scarcely be allied to the terms indicating a Gothic *fatils, ‘sword-belt.’
Fessel (2.), feminine, ‘pastern.’ See Fuß.