recock

verb

re·​cock (ˌ)rē-ˈkäk How to pronounce recock (audio)
recocked; recocking; recocks

transitive + intransitive

: to cock again
If a quarterback has pump-faked and then begins to recock the arm and the ball is lost, that is a fumble.Nick Cafardo
especially : to position the hammer of (a firearm) to reset it for firing after a previous attempt to discharge it
If a deer is still in the vicinity, it's not likely that the hunter can recock without alerting it. Eric Bruce
When his pistol misfired, onlookers declared honor had been restored. But the feisty Jackson, blood dripping into his boots, recocked his pistol, fired and killed the startled Dickinson. Robert Kyle

Word History

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recock was in 1797

Dictionary Entries Near recock

Cite this Entry

“Recock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recock. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!