recoilless

American  

[ri-koil-lis, ree-koil-] / rɪˈkɔɪl lɪs, ˈriˌkɔɪl- /

adjective

1. having little or no recoil.

   a recoilless rifle.

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recoilless British  

/ rɪˈkɔɪllɪs /

adjective

1. denoting a gun, esp an antitank weapon, in which the blast is vented to the rear so as to eliminate or reduce recoil

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Etymology

Origin of recoilless

First recorded in 1945–50; recoil + -less

Example Sentences

The ministry distributed to media outlets photos of North Korean soldiers building a guard post and moving a suspected recoilless rifle to a newly built trench.

From Washington Times • Nov. 27, 2023

Decades ago, the military provided Mammoth and other ski areas with old-style recoilless rifles for controlling avalanches.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2017

The barrel of a recoilless rifle is open at both ends.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

And the depot recently received funding to destroy 15,000 recoilless rifles last used during World War II, Pike says.

From Reuters • Nov. 18, 2013

From the top of the wing a two-inch Rickert recoilless thrust forth its snout; it rose in air till the whole weapon was visible, then settled again and buried itself inside the wing.

From Two Thousand Miles Below by Diffin, Charles Willard