retire

Where does the word "retire" come from? It comes from Old French tirer, passing through French before entering English (1530s).

Retire’s story begins in Old French: tirer meant “to draw.” An Old French verb of uncertain origin. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as retirer. French 'retirer', to draw back, from 'tirer', to pull; in English it was first said of armies retreating, in the 1530s. It reached English by 1530s as retire. The sense 'stop working for good' dates from the 1600s. Today, retire means to leave one's job and stop working.

1. Stage 1 · Old French · medieval tirer "to draw", an Old French verb of uncertain origin.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1500s retirer "to withdraw", French 'retirer', to draw back, from 'tirer', to pull; in English it was first said of armies retreating, in the 1530s.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1530s retire "to withdraw", the sense 'stop working for good' dates from the 1600s.