▪ I. ˈretching, vbl. n.1 rare.
[f. retch v.1]
The action of stretching or drawing out.
| 1601 J. Wheeler Treat. Comm. 82 The said English Aduenturers do not sell their Clothes after they haue beene wet, and put in the water, without retching, or stretching. 1674 N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. To Rdr., The one had wrackt and limm'd my thoughts, with endless tenters and boundless retchings out. |
▪ II. ˈretching, vbl. n.2
[f. retch v.2]
† a. Hawking, or clearing of the throat. Obs. b. Vomiting, or making efforts to do this.
| 1548 Elyot, Excreo, to spette out with retchyng. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 401 The same medicine..is very profitable for those which are troubled with a..bloudy spitting out with retching. 1623 Cockeram 1, Excreation, a retching or spitting out. 1704 F. Fuller Med. Gymn. (1718) 6 Sneezing; to which frequently is join'd Gauping or Retching. 1776 Phil. Trans. LXVI. 547 The symptoms..were universal lassitude and weakness, followed by a retching. 1801 Med. Jrnl. V. 540 He had also nausea and retching, violent head-ach. 1845 Budd Dis. Liver 295 The water abates the severity of the retching. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 84 A feeling of nausea..often going on to violent retching. |
▪ III. ˈretching, ppl. a.
[f. retch v.1]
Capable of stretching.
| c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 163 Þe lungis ben maad of .iij. substauncis: of fleisch þat is recchinge, & braunche of arterijs. 1611 Cotgr., Marroquin chaussant, gentle, yeelding, retching. 1615 R. Brathwait Strappado (1878) 60 Nor is his conscience made of retching lether. 1650 T. Hubbert Pill Formality 24 They have their consciences made of retching leather. |