retrenchment

Etymology 1
Probably partly from both of the following:


 * , (modern 🇨🇬), from,  + . Retrancher and retranchier are derived from  + ,  (modern 🇨🇬); the further etymology is uncertain, but one possibility is that the Old French words are from , the    of , from , ultimately from.
 * . Retrench is derived from, : see above.

Noun

 * 1) A curtailment or reduction.
 * 2)  An act of reducing expenses; economizing.
 * 3)  An act of terminating the employment of a worker or making an employee redundant, often to reduce expenses; a layoff.
 * 4)  Withdrawal.
 * 1)  An act of reducing expenses; economizing.
 * 2)  An act of terminating the employment of a worker or making an employee redundant, often to reduce expenses; a layoff.
 * 3)  Withdrawal.
 * 1)  An act of terminating the employment of a worker or making an employee redundant, often to reduce expenses; a layoff.
 * 2)  Withdrawal.
 * 1)  Withdrawal.

Usage notes
Sense 1.2 (“act of terminating the employment of a worker”) is common in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa, but uncommon in Britain and the United States.

Translations

 * Bulgarian: ,
 * Finnish:
 * Italian: ,
 * Polish: ,
 * Punjabi: ਹੱਥ ਘੁੱਟਣਾ
 * Russian:

Etymology 2
Probably either from:


 * (modern 🇨🇬), from +  + ; or
 * . Retrench is probably derived from, , from + , ; see further at etymology 1.

Noun

 * 1)  A defensive work constructed within a fortification to make it more defensible by allowing defenders to retreat into and fight from it even after the enemy has taken the outer work.

Translations

 * Bulgarian: окопаване
 * Italian:
 * Polish: oszańcowanie

Etymology 3
Internal formation from, possibly reinforced by misinterpretation of Etymology 1.

Noun

 * 1)  The adoption of a defensive and hostile posture; refusal to compromise, radicalization.