Added 8 October 2026
coil
/kɔɪl/ noun
Latin root: colligō Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about coil at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Something wound in the form of a helix or spiral.
the sinuous coils of a snake
- Any intrauterine device for contraception (originally coil-shaped).
- A coil of electrically conductive wire through which electricity can flow.
verb
-
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.
-
To wind into loops (roughly) around a common center.
The sailor coiled the free end of the hawser on the pier.
-
To wind cylindrically or spirally.
to coil a rope when not in use
noun
noun
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)