# mettle

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmɛtəl/ · frequency rank #40,798

## Definitions
1. A quality of courage and endurance.
2. Good temperament and character.
3. Obsolete spelling of metal (“metallic substance”).

## Etymology
From figurative use of metal (since 16th century). The two spellings were originally interchangeable variants, but came to be distinguished by sense in the 18th century.

## Easily confused with
- **myrtle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mettle-vs-myrtle)
- **mottled** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mettle-vs-mottled)
- **metal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metal-vs-mettle)
- **metre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metre-vs-mettle)
- **matte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/matte-vs-mettle)
- **merle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/merle-vs-mettle)
- **metals** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/metals-vs-mettle)
- **mantle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mantle-vs-mettle)
- **meddle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/meddle-vs-mettle)
- **Mattie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mattie-vs-mettle)

## Common misspellings (7)
`emttle`, `metle`, `metlte`, `mettel`, `mettlle`, `mmettle`, `mtetle`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mettle