4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Recoil  \Re*coil"\,  v.  t. 
  To  draw  or  go  back  [Obs.]  --Spenser. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Recoil  \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}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  recoil 
  n  1:  the  backward  jerk  of  a  gun  when  it  is  fired  [syn:  {kick}] 
  2:  a  movement  back  from  an  impact  [syn:  {repercussion},  {rebound}, 
  {backlash}] 
  v  1:  draw  back  as  with  fear  [syn:  {flinch},  {squinch},  {funk},  {cringe}, 
  {shrink},  {wince},  {quail}] 
  2:  spring  back  spring  away  from  an  impact;  "The  rubber  ball 
  bounced"  [syn:  {bounce},  {take  a  hop},  {spring},  {bound}, 
  {rebound},  {ricochet}] 
  3:  spring  back  as  from  a  forceful  thrust;  "The  gun  kicked  back 
  into  my  shoulder"  [syn:  {kick  back},  {kick}] 

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