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recoil - What does it mean?

Definition of 'recoil'

English

(wikipedia)

Noun

(en-noun)
  • A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking.
    • the recoil of nature, or of the blood
  • The state or condition of having recoiled.
  • * F. W. Robertson
    • The recoil from formalism is skepticism.
  • (firearms) The amount of 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.

    • Verb

  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , V.11:
    • that rude rout
  • (obsolete) To retire, withdraw.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , I.x:
    • Ye both forwearied be: therefore a whyle / Iread you rest, and to your bowres recoyle .
  • * Milton
    • Evil on itself shall back recoil .
  • * De Quincey
    • The solemnity of her demeanor made it impossible that we should recoil into our ordinary spirits.
  • To pull back, especially in disgust, horror or astonishment.
    • He recoiled in disgust when he saw the mess.
    (Shakespeare)

    Derived terms

    * recoil on

    Anagrams

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    Similar to 'recoil'

    resell, racial, regal, recall, rascal, rasul, reskill, rugal, resel, reseal, resail, rakel, recool, rejail, rechill, regall, roseal, rigoll, rigol, requel, rossel, raschel