coil
noun
a connected series of spirals or rings that rope, wire, or the like has been formed into.
were coiling
-
past progressiveof coil.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But forward in our ships the men were coiling the great cables that should, we hoped, bring the bridge and stones alike down harmlessly to us.
From King Olaf's Kinsman A Story of the Last Saxon Struggle against the Danes in the Days of Ironside and Cnut by Charles W. (Charles Watts) Whistler
He looked toward Mat again, but she and Little Blue Flower were coiling their long hair in fantastic fashion about their heads, and laughing like school-girls together.
From Vanguards of the Plains by Margaret Hill McCarter
"They were coiling away a spare cable—all but Bob Thomas, who was to pull the captain ashore; and the visitors were assisting them."
From Freaks of Fortune or, Half Round the World by Oliver Optic
Her lower extremities were like those of a dragon, and snakes were coiling round her neck and shoulders.
From Greek and Roman Ghost Stories by Lacy Collison-Morley
At first I thought he had passed around to the other side of the mizzenmast, for we were coiling down gear that had been disarranged during the job, and I was not worried.
From The Blood Ship by Norman Springer
