Retrench
/rɪˈtrentʃ/noun
To reduce, cut back, or economize, especially by reducing expenditure.
Did you know?In military usage, a retrenchment was a defensive trench or fortification, so the word moved from literally cutting earth to figuratively cutting expenses.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tere-
“To rub, turn, or wear away; a proposed ancient root connected with cutting and shaping.”
Classical Latin
Latin
truncare
“To cut off, mutilate, or shorten; derived from truncus, meaning a cut-off piece or tree trunk.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
trencher
“To cut, slice, or carve; the source of English trench.”
14th Century
Anglo-French
retrencher
“To cut back, cut off, or reduce, formed with re- meaning back or again plus trencher.”
15th Century
English
retrench
“To cut down or shorten; later also used for reducing costs.”
Modern English
English
retrench
“To economize or reduce spending, staff, activity, or scope.”