etymonline: fletcher (n.) "arrow-maker," early 14c. (as a surname attested from 1203), from Old French flechier "maker of arrows," from fleche "arrow," which is probably from Frankish, from Proto-Germanic •fleug-ika- (compare Old Low German fliuca, Middle Dutch vliecke), from PIE •pleuk- "to fly," extended form of root •pleu- "to flow" (see pluvial).
I think it pretty much stands for the whole arrow, but comes from the word for “flying” back in old Germanic languages – but via the arrow being a flying projectile, not from the feathers per se.
I think it pretty much stands for the whole arrow, but comes from the word for “flying” back in old Germanic languages – but via the arrow being a flying projectile, not from the feathers per se.