Retirade
/ˈrɛtɪreɪd/noun
A defensive military work positioned behind a main fortification to protect a retreat.
Did you know?Unlike a simple retreat, a retirade was a physical defensive structure designed to let soldiers withdraw while continuing to resist attack.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tragh-
“To draw or pull; the reconstructed root behind later Latin words involving movement or drawing back.”
Classical Latin
Latin
trahere
“To draw, drag, or pull.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
retirare
“To draw back or withdraw, formed with re- meaning 'back'.”
16th Century
Spanish
retirada
“A withdrawal or retreat; the feminine form of retirado, 'withdrawn'.”
16th–17th Century
French
retirade
“A defensive work or protected place of retreat, borrowed through military vocabulary.”
17th Century
English
retirade
“A fortification behind the main defensive line, allowing troops to retreat under protection.”