The second element of words such as *cotsetla and *ansetla, meaning someone who sits or dwells. Thus cotsetla = a person who dwells in a cottage; *ansetla = someone who dwells alone, i.e. a *hermit. There is also fotsetla which suggests someone sitting at another's feet; their function, though, is hard to guess. -
Cf. Pedesecus
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.