Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Retrinch, -trinsh(e, v. Also: -trinche, -trins; -trench; -trainsh. [17th c. Eng. retrench to bar (a passage) (1614), to diminish (1625), to take away (c1650), etc., OF retrenchier, -trancher (12th c. in Larousse).] tr.

1. To diminish the number or extent of; to cut down. 1595 in Purves Revenue Crown 14.
They shall retrinch the superfluous number of servants in his majestis house 1608 Reg. Privy C. VIII 41.
We wilbe unwilling to retrinche or recall bak ony pairt of oure former intendit liberalitie 1604-31 Craig iv 31.
His example heere, Makes manie fast, … The traine retrainsh'd, the table curt and short 1627 Misc. Spald. C. II 222.
By discouradgeing of them to suffer their honours and priueledges … to be aniewise retrinched 1656 Writers Signet 276.
[That none shall be admitted until] the haill number of the ordinar wryters be redacted and retrinshed to the number of thirtie-six persones 1672 Edinb. B. Rec. X 129.
Your petitioner should be necessitat ather to give over or retrinch his trade

2. To take away, withdraw; to repress. 1604 W. Alexander Julius Cæsar 670.
Ye have lost as much as he hath gain'd Whose rising hopes must be retrench'd so soone 1619 Sel. Biog. I 123.
Our Saviour giues them a commendation whilk he retrinches here after because it was bot temporarie c1627 Bk. Carlaverock II 11.
Whiche gift being presentit to hawe bein past vnder your handis wes retrinshed

b. To withhold. 1630 Misc. Hist. Soc. II 254.
We med a bargaine with a Hollander … bot having considered your letter I retrinssed be his avine consent the bear of Schapinschaw

3. a. To confine to certain limits; to restrict, limit. b. To confine (an activity) to a specific place.a. a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 123.
The lords retrinched the warrandice to the soumes peyit be Crichlaw to Jhone Murray 1653 Boyd Fam. P. No. 207 (17 Aug.).
Lykas shoe be thir presents dois astrict and retrinshe hir lyfrent and conjunct infeftment to … thre hundreth and twentie ane merks 1670 Dunkeld Presb. II 460.
He retrinching his seatt to fyve quarters and a halfe and leaving ane entrie comonb. 1651 Dickson Matthew 62.
Neither doth he retrinch all our secret prayers to a chamber