1710 D. Hilman Sept. 14 There is a Water-retting and a Dew-retting, which last is done on a good Rawing, or after Math of a Meadow Water.
a1825 R. Forby (1830) Dew-retting, which is spreading the crop on the grass, and turning it now and then to receive the dew.
1846 J. Baxter (ed. 4) I. 274 In Dorsetshire and the neighbourhood the flax growers have generally adopted the practice of dew retting.