RECOIL', verb intransitive 1. To move or start back; to roll back; as, a cannon recoils when fired; waves recoil from the shore. 2. To fall back; to retire. 3. To rebound; as, the blow recoils. 4. To retire; to flow back; as, the blood recoils with horror at the sight. 5. To start back; to shrink. Nature recoils at the bloody deed. 6. To return. The evil will recoil upon his own head. RECOIL', verb transitive To drive back. [Not used.] RECOIL', noun A starting or falling back; as the recoil of fire-arms; the recoil of nature of the blood.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI