Re-coil'1, v. i.
v. i. [imp. & p. p. RECOILED; p. pr. & vb. n. RECOILING.] [O. Eng. recule, recuile, Fr. reculer, Pr. & Sp. recular, Pg. recuar, It. rinculare, from Lat. re, again, back, and culus, the posteriors or fundament; Fr. & Pr. cul, Sp. & It. culo.]
Sense 1. To start, roll, bound, or fall back; to take a reverse motion; to be driven or forced to retreat; to retire; to return.
Evil on itself shall back recoil. Milton.
The solemnity of her demeanor made it impossible at the moment that we should recoil into an ordinary spirit. De Quincey.
Sense 2. To draw back as from any thing repugnant, distressing, alarming, and the like; to shrink.
Who then shall blame His pestered senses, to recoil and start When all that is within him does condemn Itself for being there! Shak.