recoil etymology

Etymology

The word "recoil" has its origins in two French words:

• "reculer" (to move backward, retreat)
• "couler" (to flow)

Meaning

• Primary Meaning: The sudden backward movement or impact experienced by a gun, weapon, or other device after firing or discharging.
• Figurate Meaning: A reaction or consequence that is negative, unpleasant, or unintended.

Origin

The term "recoil" was first used in the 14th century to describe the backward motion of cannons after firing. It is believed that the term was coined due to the observation that the gun would "flow" (couler) backward after firing. Over time, the term came to be used to describe any backward motion caused by a sudden release of energy.

Examples of Use

• Primary Meaning: The recoil of the rifle was so strong that it almost knocked me off my feet.
• Figurate Meaning: I recoiled in horror when I saw the bloody scene.

recoil relate terms

• tutu

  Etymology French from Italian tutu probably from children s language reduplication

• redact

  Etymology Late Latin redactus past participle of redigere to bring back restore re

• redeem

  Etymology The word redeem comes from the Latin word redimere which means to buy bac

• redolent

  Etymology Latin redolēns fragrant Present participle of the verb redolēre to g

• redundant

  Etymology Redundant comes from the Latin word redundare which means to overflow or

• redintegrate

  Etymology Latin redintegrare Prefix re again anew Root integrare to make

• render

  Etymology Old French rendre Late Latin reddere Proto Indo European red Meaning

• rally

  Etymology The word rally comes from the Old French word rallier which means to gath

• receive

  Etymology The word receive comes from the Middle English word receiven which itself

• recommend

  Recommend Etymology From the Old French recommander to commend recommend itself f

• reduce

  Etymology Latin reducere from re back ducere to lead Middle French reduir

• recreate

  Etymology Etymology is derived from the Greek words etymon ἔτυμον true sen

• refer

  Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way their form and meaning have chan

• religion

  Etymology The word religion is derived from the Latin word religio which means rev

• remain

  Etymology The word remain is derived from the Old French word remeindre modern Frenc

• request

  Etymology The word request comes from the Middle English word requeste which in tu

• require

  Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the ways in which their meanings have ch

• recovery

  Etymology of Recovery The word recovery originates from the Old French term recover

• rebel

  Etymology The word rebel derives from the Latin verb rebellāre meaning to rise ag

• relic

  Etymology Middle English relike Old French relique Latin reliquia a thing left beh

• remnant

  Etymology The word remnant is derived from the late Middle English word remenant wh

• restive

  Etymology The word restive comes from the Latin word restare meaning to stand still

• rest

  Etymology The word rest originates from the Old English word restan which means to

• rally

  Etymology The word rally comes from the Old French word rallier which means to gath

• ransom

  Etymology Middle English raunson from Anglo Norman French raençon from Late Latin r

• redemption

  Etymology Redemption derives from the Latin word redemptio which means a buying back

• rampart

  Etymology and Meaning The word rampart comes from the Middle English term rampart w

• rebuild

  Etymology The word rebuild is derived from the Old English words re meaning again

• refill

  Etymology The word refill is derived from the French word refiller meaning to fill

• reset

  Etymology The word reset has its roots in the Middle English word resetten which mea

• rewrite

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It traces the develo

• regret

  Etymology Old French regretter Late Latin regretari meaning to murmur complain Po

• regard

  Etymology The word regard comes from the Middle French word regarder which means t

• reward

  Etymology Middle English rewarde from Anglo French rewarde reward from Old French r

• bounce

  Etymology The word bounce originates from the Middle English word bouncen which in

• spring

  Etymology The word spring derives from the Proto Indo European root sphreng meaning

• bound

  Etymology Old English bindan Proto Germanic bindaną Meaning To tie fasten

• wince

  Etymology The word wince comes from the Middle English word winchen which is a vari

• rebound

  Etymology The word rebound originates from the Old French verb rebondir meaning to

• shrink

  Etymology Late Middle English from Middle Dutch schrinken variant of shrumpen from O

• start

  Etymology The word start has multiple etymologies depending on its usage Meaning

• motion

  Etymology The word motion comes from the Latin word motus which means movement or

• backfire

  Etymology The word backfire is derived from the Middle English term bacfire which wa

• reverberate

  Etymology From Middle English reverberen from Old French reverberer from Latin reverb