retting

Variant of ret

ret definition

ret (ret)

transitive verb retted ret′·ted, retting ret′·ting

to dampen or soak (flax, hemp, timber, etc.) in water in order to separate the fibers from the woody tissue

Etymology: ME retten, reten < MDu reten, reeten < IE *reud-: see rotten

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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