Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Recoil?

\Re*coil"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Recoiled}; 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"\, v. t. To draw or go back. [Obs.] --Spenser.
\Re*coil"\, n. 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}.