Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - recoil

v. & n. --v.intr. 1 suddenly move or spring back in fear, horror, or disgust. 2 shrink mentally in this way. 3 rebound after an impact. 4 (foll. by on, upon) have an adverse reactive effect on (the originator). 5 (of a gun) be driven backwards by its discharge. 6 retreat under an enemy's attack. 7 Physics (of an atom etc.) move backwards by the conservation of momentum on emission of a particle. --n. also 1 the act or an instance of recoiling. 2 the sensation of recoiling. Etymology: ME f. OF reculer (as RE-, L culus buttocks)