RECOIL', v.i. 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', v.t. To drive back. [Not used.] RECOIL', n. A starting or falling back; as the recoil of fire-arms; the recoil of nature of the blood.
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