An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1a) The forced or strategic withdrawal of an army or an armed force before an enemy, or the withdrawing of a naval force from action.

1b) The act of withdrawing, as into safety or privacy; retirement; seclusion.

2. To withdraw, retire, or draw back, especially for shelter or seclusion.

Etymology (EN): Mi.E. retret, from O.Fr., variant of retrait, noun use of p.p. of retraire “to draw back,” from L. retrahere, from → re- + trahere “to draw.”

Etymology (PE): Pas-kešidan “to retreat, pull back,” from pas, → back,

• kašidan “to pull, to draw, to drag,” → galaxy.