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fetch n OED ~ sb2 1 (1787-1871), EDD sb1
for sense 1; cp EDD 13 'quantity fetched or carried at one time' for sense 3.
1 An apparition or double of a living person, the appearance of
which often portends death or disaster; ghost; TOKEN.
1924 ENGLAND
219 'Fetches,' or spirits, are annoyingly familiar at sea. They wander about vessels and
try to get the crew to chat with them; also with ghostly hands they essay to remove human
ones from the wheel. If the living steersman will only keep cool and quiet and hold fast,
the fetch will presently disappear; if not, and the fetch gets possession of the wheel,
woe to that ship! 1937 DEVINE 21 ~ An apparition of an acquaintance that the observer
knew to be in a distant locality. 1968 DILLON 138 If I didn't meet you on the road last
night, 'twas your fetch. C 68-16 A fetch is something seen which resembles a human
person. It may be seen at night or day usually before or after a person dies. A person
may see his own fetch. C 71-95 To see someone's fetch from midnight to noon was a sign
that person would soon die, but to see a fetch from noon to midnight was a sign that
person still had a long life.
2 A phantom ship.
T 55/7-64 Lots o' people see her beating in here under sail, you
know, this schooner—the fetch or whatever you call it.
3 A
cargo (of seals) (1925 Dial Notes v, 330).
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