The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Fettered \Fet"tered\, a. (Zool.) Seeming as if fettered, as the feet of certain animals which bend backward, and appear unfit for walking. [1913 Webster]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
fettered adj 1: bound by chains fastened around the ankles [syn: fettered, shackled]