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.
To draw back, as from anything repugnant, distressing, alarming, or the like; to shrink. Shak.
To turn or go back; to withdraw one's self; to retire. [Obs.] "To your bowers recoil." Spenser.
To draw or go back. [Obs.] Spenser.
A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking; as, the recoil of nature, or of the blood.
The state or condition of having recoiled. The recoil from formalism is skepticism. F. W. Robertson.
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.
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