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Webster 1913 Edition

Recoil

Re-coil′

(rē̍-koil′)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Recoiled
(rē̍-koild′)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Recoiling
.]
[OE.
recoilen
, F.
reculer
, fr. L. pref.
re-
re- +
culus
the fundament. The English word was perhaps influenced in form by
accoil
.]
1.
To start, roll, bound, spring, or fall back; to take a reverse motion; to be driven or forced backward; to return.
Evil on itself shall back
recoil
.
Milton.
The solemnity of her demeanor made it impossible . . . that we should
recoil
into our ordinary spirits.
De Quincey.
2.
To draw back, as from anything repugnant, distressing, alarming, or the like; to shrink.
Shak.
3.
To turn or go back; to withdraw one’s self; to retire.
[Obs.]
“To your bowers recoil.”
Spenser.

Re-coil′

(rē̍-koil′)
,
Verb.
T.
To draw or go back.
[Obs.]
Spenser.

Re-coil′

,
Noun.
1.
A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking;
as, the
recoil
of nature, or of the blood
.
2.
The state or condition of having recoiled.
The
recoil
from formalism is skepticism.
F. W. Robertson.
3.
Specifically, the reaction or rebounding of a firearm when discharged.
Recoil dynamometer
(Gunnery)
,
an instrument for measuring the force of the recoil of a firearm.
–
Recoil escapement
.
See the Note under
Escapement
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Recoil

RECOIL'

, v.i.
1.
To move or start back; to roll back; as, a cannon recoils when fired; waves recoil from the shore.
2.
To fall back; to retire.
3.
To rebound; as, the blow recoils.
4.
To retire; to flow back; as, the blood recoils with horror at the sight.
5.
To start back; to shrink. Nature recoils at the bloody deed.
6.
To return. The evil will recoil upon his own head.

RECOIL'

,
Verb.
T.
To drive back. [Not used.]

RECOIL'

,
Noun.
A starting or falling back; as the recoil of fire-arms; the recoil of nature of the blood.

Definition 2024

recoil

recoil

English

Noun

recoil ‎(plural recoils)

  1. A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking.
    the recoil of nature, or of the blood
  2. The state or condition of having recoiled.
    • F. W. Robertson
      The recoil from formalism is skepticism.
  3. (firearms) The energy transmitted back to the shooter from a firearm which has fired. Recoil is a function of the weight of the weapon, the weight of the projectile, and the speed at which it leaves the muzzle.

Synonyms

Translations

Verb

recoil ‎(third-person singular simple present recoils, present participle recoiling, simple past and past participle recoiled)

  1. (intransitive, now rare) To retreat before an opponent. [from 14th c.]
    • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, V.11:
      that rude rout […] forced them, how ever strong and stout / They were, as well approv'd in many a doubt, / Backe to recule […]
  2. (obsolete, intransitive) To retire, withdraw. [15th-18th c.]
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, I.x:
      Ye both forwearied be: therefore a whyle / Iread you rest, and to your bowres recoyle.
    • Milton
      Evil on itself shall back recoil.
    • De Quincey
      The solemnity of her demeanor made it impossible […] that we should recoil into our ordinary spirits.
  3. To pull back, especially in disgust, horror or astonishment. [from 16th c.]
    He recoiled in disgust when he saw the mess.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)

Derived terms

  • recoil on

Translations

Translations

Anagrams

Etymology

From Old French reculer.

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -ɔɪəl, -ɔɪl

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