to draw back; start or shrink back, as in alarm, horror, or disgust.
2.
to spring or fly back, as in consequence of force of impact or the force of the discharge, as a firearm.
3.
to spring or come back; react (usually fol. by on or upon): Plots frequently recoil upon the plotters.
4.
Physics. (of an atom, a nucleus, or a particle) to undergo a change in momentum as a result either of a collision with an atom, a nucleus, or a particle or of the emission of a particle.
–noun
5.
an act of recoiling.
6.
the distance through which a weapon moves backward after discharging.
[Origin: 1175–1225; ME recoilen,reculen (v.) < OF reculer, equiv. to re-re-+ -culer, v. deriv. of cul rump, buttocks; see culet]
—Related forms
re·coil·ing·ly, adverb
—Synonyms 1. withdraw, quail, flinch, falter. See wince.2. rebound.
c.1225, "force back," from O.Fr. reculer "to go back, recede, retreat," from V.L. *reculare, from L. re- "back" + culus "backside." Meaning "shrink back" is first recorded 1513, and that of "spring back" (as a gun) in 1530. The noun is attested from c.1330.
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"\, 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.
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