■ verb
1》 suddenly spring back or flinch in fear, horror, or disgust.
↘feel such emotions at the thought of something.
2》 (of a gun) move abruptly backwards as a reaction on firing.
↘spring back through force of impact or elasticity.
3》 ( ~ on/upon ) (of an action) have an adverse consequence for (the originator).
■ noun the action of ~ing.
Derivatives
~less adjective
Word History
Recoil came into English from Old French reculer 'move back', and first meant 'drive or force back' or 'retreat'. The -coil part comes from Latin culus , which means 'buttocks, bottom': this gave rise to the French word cul , the source of cul-de-sac (literally 'bottom of a sack') and culottes .