Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “retten” come from?

retten (Middle English) comes from Middle Dutch rēten, from Proto-Germanic rautijaną, from Proto-Indo-European rewd- — to tear; rend; rip.

Ancestry of “retten”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Dutchrēten—
2Proto-Germanicrautijaną—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanrewd-to tear; rend; rip

Words derived from “retten”

  • ret
  • retting
  • retted
  • retter
  • dewretting
  • rettery
  • dewret
Every word from Proto-Indo-European rewd- →