1. [n]  a movement back from an impact
2. [n]  the backward jerk of a gun when it is fired
3. [v]  spring back, as from a forceful thrust; "The gun kicked back into my shoulder"
4. [v]  spring back; spring away from an impact; "The rubber ball bounced"; "These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide"
5. [v]  draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf"

Recoil
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1. \Re*coil"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Recoiled}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Recoiling}.] [OE. recoilen, F. reculer, fr. L. pref. re-
   re- + culus the fundament. The English word was perhaps
   influenced in form by accoil.]
   1. To start, roll, bound, spring, or fall back; to take a
      reverse motion; to be driven or forced backward; to
      return.
            Evil on itself shall back recoil.     --Milton.
            The solemnity of her demeanor made it impossible . .
            . that we should recoil into our ordinary spirits.
                                                  --De Quincey.
   2. To draw back, as from anything repugnant, distressing,
      alarming, or the like; to shrink. --Shak.
   3. To turn or go back; to withdraw one's self; to retire.
      [Obs.] ``To your bowers recoil.'' --Spenser.
   

2. \Re*coil"\, v. t.
   To draw or go back. [Obs.] --Spenser.
   

3. \Re*coil"\, n.
   1. A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking; as,
      the recoil of nature, or of the blood.
   2. The state or condition of having recoiled.
            The recoil from formalism is skepticism. --F. W.
                                                  Robertson.
   3. Specifically, the reaction or rebounding of a firearm when
      discharged.
   {Recoil dynamometer} (Gunnery), an instrument for measuring
      the force of the recoil of a firearm.
   {Recoil escapement} See the Note under {Escapement}.