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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RETIRE, v. Also Sc. form retier (e.Lth. 1701 Rec. Sc. Cloth Manuf. (S.H.S.) 240).

Sc. usages. [†rə′ti:r]

1. To withdraw from currency, to pay up a bill of exchange or sim. bond, of the drawee who has the obligation to cash it on maturity.Sc. 1706 W. Fraser Bk. Carlaverock (1873) II. 169:
I hope your Lordship will be pleased to send in my backbond, to any whom yow trust in your bussinesse, that it may be retired on my denudeing in the terms of it.Inv. 1727 Trans. Inv. Scientif. Soc. I. 225:
“Christina Mackintosh, washer-woman in the Haugh, gave me Three pounds sterlin money to keep for her — for which gave my note, payable on demand.” To this a rider is appended, dated the following July — “Retired said note from her.”Sc. 1824 Scott St. Ronan's W. xv.:
I have some reason to speak, having two of his notes for £100 each, . . . which he thinks nae mair of retiring than he does of paying the National Debt.

Deriv. retiral, the taking up and paying of a bill when due (Sc. 1882 Ogilvie Dict.).

†2. Of a debtor: to seek sanctuary, specif. in the Abbey of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.Sc. 1722 W. Forbes Institutes I. II. 26:
Caption or Execution of the Body for civil Debt, is stopped, 1. By the Debtor's retiring to, and keeping within the Abbay of Holyrood-house, which is a Sanctuary.Sc. 1778 Morison Decisions 5:
The constant usage has been, that all persons retiring to the Abbey for protection, have entered themselves in the books.Sc. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law. Scot. 880:
When a person retires to the sanctuary, he is protected against personal diligence from the instant he passes the confines; and tthis protection continues for twenty-four hours.

3. As in Eng., to leave, withdraw from a place. Ppl.adj. retiring, in comb. retiring collection, an extra collection dedicated to some special purpose taken at the Church door as the congregation leaves. Gen.Sc.m.Sc. 1917 O. Douglas The Setons x.:
His daughter implored him to remember the “intimations”, and to be sure to put in that there was a Retiring Collection for the Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund.