recoil

 
Pronunciation: /rɪˈkɔɪl/

verb

[no object]
  • 1suddenly spring or flinch back in fear, horror, or disgust: he recoiled in horror
  • feel fear, horror, or disgust at the thought of something: Ronni felt herself recoil at the very thought
  • 2rebound or spring back through force of impact or elasticity: the muscle has the ability to recoil
  • (of a gun) move abruptly backwards as a reaction on firing a bullet, shell, or other missile: the rifle recoiled
  • (recoil on/upon) (of an action) have an adverse reactive effect on (the originator): if man upsets his planetary ecosystem it will automatically recoil upon him

noun

Pronunciation: /also ˈriːkɔɪl/
[mass noun]
  • the action of recoiling: his body jerked with the recoil of the rifle

Derivatives

recoilless

adjective

Origin:

Middle English (denoting the act of retreating): from Old French reculer 'move back', based on Latin culus 'buttocks'