Noah Webster
Recoil
RECOIL', verb intransitive
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', verb transitive To drive back. [Not used.]
RECOIL', noun A starting or falling back; as the recoil of fire-arms; the recoil of nature of the blood.