- retract (v.)
- early 15c., "to draw (something) back," from Old French retracter (14c.) and directly from Latin retractus, past participle of retrahere "to draw back" (see retraction). Sense of "to revoke, recant, take back" is attested from 1540s, probably a back-formation from retraction. Related: Retracted; retracting.
- retractile
- "Capable of being retracted", Late 18th century: from retract, on the pattern of contractile.
- retractability
- "Ability (of a component part) to be retracted", Mid 19th cent.; earliest use found in The Penny Magazine. From retractable + -ity: see -bility.