retrenchment

A cutting down or back; reduction.

A curtailment of expenses.

The act of retrenching, lopping off, or pruning; the act of removing what is superfluous: as, retrenchment of words in a writing.

The act of curtailing, reducing, or lessening; diminution; particularly, the reduction of outlay or expenses; economy.

Milit.: An interior rampart or defensible line, comprising ditch and parapet, which cuts off a part of a fortress from the rest, and to which a garrison may retreat to prolong a defense, when the enemy has gained partial possession of the place.

An intrenchment.

Synonyms and Reduction, curtailment, abridgment.

The act or process of retrenching.

A work constructed within another, to prolong the defense of the position when the enemy has gained possession of the outer work; or to protect the defenders till they can retreat or obtain terms for a capitulation.

A reduction or curtailment; often referring to a business or government agency cutting back operations or laying off workers.