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recoil |
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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