wofa said: Well, it looks so far as though the poll is heavily in favor of "fil-lay" over "fil-let". BUT it also looks as if the poll is all US, has but limited representation from "British-English" speakers ... Perhaps we could hear from more non-USns?

In searching for a quotation on another matter, I stumbled across something possibly relevant here. So forgive me for bringing up a somewhat stale thread.

Cranch's traslation of the Aeneid uses the word "fillet" and clearly is pronouncing it fill-it, to fit the iambic pentameter:

..................................and Discord wild
Her viper-locks with bloody fillets bound.