Retort

rē-tort′, v.t. to throw back: to return: to retaliate: to separate by means of a retort.— v.i. to make a sharp reply.— n. a ready and sharp reply: a witty answer: a ve el used in distillation, properly a spiral tube.— p.adj. Retor′ted ( her. ), interlaced.— ns. Retor′ter ; Retor′tion .— adj. Retor′tive .— n. Retort′-seal′er , an instrument for removing the encrustation in coal-gas retorts. [Fr.,—L. retortum , pa.p. of retorquēre — re- , back, torquēre , to twist.]