Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Sense: 1
Date: 1500-1600
Origin: RETORT1
Sense: 2
Date: 1600-1700
Language: French
Origin: retorte, from Latin retorquere ( RETORT1); because of its bent shape

retort

2 noun
     
Related topics: Chemistry
retort2 [countable]
1 a short angry or humorous reply:
He was about to make a sharp retort.
2HC a bottle with a long narrow bent neck, used for heating chemicals
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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