retort1
v.
- say something sharp, angry, or witty in answer to a remark or accusation.
- archaic repay (an insult or injury).
n.
a sharp, angry, or witty reply.
Etymology
C15: from L. retort-, retorquere ‘twist back’.
retort2
n.
- a container or furnace for carrying out a chemical process on a large or industrial scale.
- historical a glass container with a long neck, used in distilling liquids and other chemical operations.
v.
heat in a retort.
Etymology
C17: from Fr. retorte, from med. L. retorta, fem. past part. of retorquere ‘twist back’ (with ref. to the long recurved neck of the laboratory container).