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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Retret(e, -treit, -trait(e, n. Also: ra- and -treat(e, -trit; -traict. [ME and e.m.E. retret (14th c.), -trete(1423), -trayt(e (Caxton), -trette (c1500), -treyte (a1533), -traict (1570–6), -treate (1580), OF retrait masc., retraite fem. (c1165 and c1185 in Larousse), also retret(e, -traict(e (OED), f. retraire, L. retrahere.]

1. A blow with the hand, ‘? a backhanded blow’ (OED).Cf. 14th c. Eng. retret, also OF cop de retrait, id. 1375 Barb. xv 49.
Thai … sic rowtis till other raucht With stok with stane & with retrete As ather part gan other bet

2. A (horn or trumpet) signal to retreat. 1375 Barb. xvii 460.
Thai gert blaw the retreit in hy Ib. 471 (C).
Ratret c1420 Wynt. ix 190. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1237.
And efftyr swne retrete thai blwe 15.. Clar. v 2082.
The king hes gevin command out of his seit, In trumpit sound to blow up the retreit 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas I 311.
With trumpets hoarse the Trytons sownd retrait

3. A withdrawal or retreat. Also, to tak the retrait, to retreat.(1) 15.. Clar. i 776.
The trumpits blew to the retreit full loud 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 471.
He was forced to retire and make a fair and easie retreit(b) a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 46.
He espyit how commodiouslie he myght mak his retrait upoun horsbak Ib. 91.
The trumpet of retrait soundit(c) 1650 Anal. Scot. I 244.
Becaus the enimies hes made a hastie retrit(d) 1586–7 Warrender P. in Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 144.
They direct away William Murray … to give his majeste advertisement of thair retraict(2) 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 29.
The … regiment … wer forced to tak the retrait

b. comb. with -wardis, to render med. L. de retornato. 14.. Acts I 306/2.
For ilk frael [of wad] remaynand in the burgh of strange mannys vnsauld atoure the feste of Sanct Mertyn it sal gyf auchten peniis for the retret wardis [L. xviij d. de retornato]

c. Retirement from society or office. 1646 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 116.
[Sir Robert Murray to the Duke of Hamilton:] I lyke not your retreate and will not forbeare to dissuade it

d. A place of retreat or resort, a refuge. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 153.
And quhat is the best pillar and surest retreat quhereupon sick a saull … may repose? 1611 Crim. Trials III 160.
Ane place of saif retrait

e. A privy. Urquhart Rabelais i xl.
The jakes and retreats of a house

4. A person to whom one may have recourse. c1590 Fowler I 292/43.
O my lord, … thow art my suir retraite