recoil
Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).
Synonyms: resoil, recoal, recoin, reboil, recol, re-coil, re coil
Antonyms: resoil, recoal, recoin, reboil, recol, re-coil, re coil
Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.
Noun
- A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking.
- The state or condition of having recoiled.
- {{lb|en|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]].
- An [[escapement]] in which, after each [[beat]], the [[scape-wheel]] recoils slightly.
Verb
- To [[pull]] back, especially in [[disgust]], [[horror]] or [[astonishment]]. {{defdate|from 16th c.}}
- {{lb|en|archaic}} To [[retreat#Verb|recoil]] before an [[opponent]]. {{defdate|from 14th c.}}
- {{lb|en|weaponry}} Of a [[firearm]]: to [[quickly]] [[push#Verb|push]] back when [[fire#Verb|fired]].
- {{lb|en|obsolete}} To [[retire]], [[withdraw]]. {{defdate|15th|18th c.}}
Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.