Definition of "recoil"

recoil

/ɹɪˈkɔɪl/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural recoils
1. A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking.
2. The state or condition of having recoiled.
  Quotations
  The recoil from formalism is skepticism.
  1850, Frederick William Robertson, second address delivered to the members of the Working Men's Institute, Brighton
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.
4. An escapement in which, after each beat, the scape-wheel recoils slightly.
verb
third-person singular simple present recoils, present participle recoiling, simple past and past participle recoiled
1. (intransitive) To pull back, especially in disgust, horror or astonishment.
2. (intransitive, now rare) To retreat before an opponent.
  Quotations
  that rude rout […] forced them, how ever strong and stout / They were, as well approv'd in many a doubt, / Backe to recule […]
  1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie
3. (obsolete, intransitive) To retire, withdraw.
  Quotations
  Ye both forwearied be: therefore a whyle / Iread you rest, and to your bowres recoyle.
  1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie
  Evil on itself shall back recoil.
  1634 October 9 (first performance), [John Milton], edited by H[enry] Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: […], London: […] [Augustine Matthews] for Hvmphrey Robinson, […], published 1637; reprinted as Comus: […] (Dodd, Mead & Company’s Facsimile Reprints of Rare Books; Literature Series; no. I), New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903,
  The solemnity of her demeanor made it impossible […] that we should recoil into our ordinary spirits.
  1838, Thomas De Quincey, The Household Wreck
  Her will, recoiling to her better judgement
  c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene iii]
4. (of a firearm) To quickly push back when fired

Definition of "recoil"

recoil

noun

Quotations

verb

Quotations

Quotations