Re*coil" (r&esl;*koil"), v. i.
[imp. & p. p. Recoiled (-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", 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.
