coil
nounverbnounnounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//kɔɪl//
- United Kingdom//koj(ə)l//
- Australia//koɪ(.ə)l//
- //kwaɪl//
Something wound in the form of a helix or spiral.
noun
- 1
Something wound in the form of a helix or spiral.
the sinuous coils of a snake
The wild grapevines that twisted their coils or tendrils from tree to tree.
- 2
Any intrauterine device for contraception (originally coil-shaped).
‘I’m gonna go on the pill and get fitted for a coil. I don’t wanna be pregnant. Ever. Again!’
And now, finally, the contraceptive burden would fall on me. After Hayley’s years of toil with a coil, and the pain of childbirth, I was due a little discomfort.
- 3
A coil of electrically conductive wire through which electricity can flow.
- 4
A cylinder of clay.
- 5
figurativeEntanglement; perplexity.
What trifling coil do we mortals keep; Wake, eat, and drink, evacuate, and sleep.
Etymology
From Middle English coilen, from Old French coillir, cuillir (“to gather, pluck, pick, cull”) (modern French cueillir), from Latin colligō (“to gather together”), past participle collectus, from com- (“together”) + legō (“to gather”); compare legend. Doublet of cull.
verb
- 1
To wind or reel e.g. a wire or rope into regular rings, often around a centerpiece.
A simple transformer can be made by coiling two pieces of insulated copper wire around an iron heart.
- 2
To wind into loops (roughly) around a common center.
The sailor coiled the free end of the hawser on the pier.
- 3
To wind cylindrically or spirally.
to coil a rope when not in use
The snake coiled itself before springing.
- 4
To build a pot (etc) with clay coils.
- 5
obsoleteTo encircle and hold with, or as if with, coils.
a. 1757, Thomas Edwards, sonnet to Mr. Nathanael Mason Pleasure coil thee in her dangerous snare
noun
- 1
A noise, tumult, bustle, or turmoil.
a. 1738, Thomas Urquhart, Peter Anthony Motteux, and John Ozell (translators), François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel And when he saw that all the dogs were flocking about her, yarring at the retardment of their access to her, and every way keeping such a coil with her as they are wont to do about a proud or salt bitch, he forthwith departed […]
If the windes rage, doth not the Sea wax mad, / Threatning the welkin with his big-swolne face? / And wilt thou haue a reason for this coile?
this great Savage desired also to see him. A great coyle there was to set him forward.
[T]hey continued ſo extremely fond of Gold, that if Peter ſent them abroad, though it were only upon a Complement; they would Roar, and Spit, and Belch, and Piſs, and Fart, and Snivle out Fire, and keep a perpetual Coyl, till you flung them a Bit of Gold; [...]
Etymology
Unknown.
noun
- 1
informalA wad of cash.
Forms
- plural
- coils
- past tense
- coiled
- past participle
- coiled
- present participle
- coiling
- third person singular
- coils
coil · Something wound in the form of a helix or spiral.
Coil · A surname.coin · A piece of currency, usually metallic and in the shape of a…Coin · A city in Iowa, United States.