Webster's English Dictionary

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recoil

1. re.coil \ri-'ko.i(*)l\ vi [ME reculen, fr. OF reculer, fr. re- + cul 
   backside -] more at CULET 1a: to fall back under pressure  1b: to shrink 
   back  2: to spring back to or as if to a starting point  obs  3: DEGENERATE 
    QUAIL mean to draw back through fear or distaste. RECOIL implies a start 
   or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust; SHRINK suggests an 
   instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice; 
   FLINCH implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or 
   frightening with resolution; WINCE suggests an involuntary movement of 
   recoil; BLENCH implies fainthearted flinching; QUAIL suggests shrinking and 
   cowering in fright or consternation SYN syn RECOIL, SHRINK, FLINCH, WINCE, 
   BLENCH, 
2. re.coil \ri-'ko.i(*)l, 're--.ko.il\ n : the action of recoiling : 
   REACTION; esp : the kickback o f a gun upon firing