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To wind cylindrically or spirally; as, to coil a rope when not in use; the snake coiled itself before springing.

A testicle. [Obs.] Chaucer.

To coil together. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

A coil of small resistance and large inductance, used in an alternating-current circuit to impede or throttle the current, or to change its phase; --called also reactance coil or reactor, these terms being now preferred in engineering usage.

A choking coil.

A choking coil.

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.

One who, or that which, recoils.

In the manner of a recoil.

Recoil. [R.]

See Induction coil, under Induction.

An induction coil, esp. of an internal-combustion engine, wireless telegraph apparatus, etc.

A transformer without iron, for high frequency alternating or oscillating currents; an oscillation transformer.

To unwind or open, as a coil of rope. Derham.

To coil up; to make into a coil, or to be made into a coil.

breech-loading firearms, the block behind the barrel which receives the pressure due to recoil.

pprehension; in fear; apprehensive. [Afraid comes after the noun it limits.] "Back they recoiled, afraid." Milton.

A unit equal to the product of one complete convolution (of a coiled conductor) into one ampère of current; thus, a conductor having five convolutions and carrying a current of half an ampère is said to have 2½ ampère turns. The magnetizing effect of a coil is proportional to the number of its ampère turns.…

The common recoil escapement.

The ascription of human feelings or passions to God, or to a polytheistic deity. In its recoil from the gross anthropopathy of the vulgar notions, it falls into the vacuum of absolute apathy. Hare.