The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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

   Recoil escapement. See the Note under Escapement.
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