English word retreat comes from Middle English (1100-1500) retret

Detailed word origin of retreat

Dictionary entry	Language	Definition
retret	Middle English (1100-1500) (enm)
retreat	English (eng)	(of a glacier) to shrink back due to generally warmer temperatures.. (of military forces) to withdraw from a position, go back. (chess) The move of a piece from a threatened position.. (rare, _, and, _, obsolete, euphemism) An peaceful, quiet place in which to urinate and defecate: an outhouse; a lavatory.. A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a [...]