— retrenchable , adj. — retrencher , n.
/ri trench"/ , v.t.
1. to cut down, reduce, or diminish; curtail (expenses).
2. to cut off or remove.
3. Mil. to protect by a retrenchment.
v.i.
4. to economize; reduce expenses: They retrenched by eliminating half of the workers.
[ 1600-10; retrencher (obs. var. of retrancher ), MF retrenchier, equiv. to re- RE- + trenchier to TRENCH ]
Syn. 1. decrease, abridge, cut.