n. 1 vessel with a long neck turned downwards, used in distilling liquids. 2 vessel for heating coal to generate gas. v. purify (mercury) by heating in a retort. [medieval Latin: related to RETORT’]. n. incisive, witty, or angry reply. v. 1 a say by way of a retort. b make a retort. 2 repay (an insult or attack) in kind. [Latin retorqueo tort twist]
