Coil

Coil (koil), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coiled (koild); p. pr. & vb. n. Coiling.] [OF. coillir, F. cueillir, to collect, gather together, L. coligere; col- + legere to gather. See Legend, and cf. Cull, v. t., Collect.] 1. To wind cylindrically or spirally; as, to coil a rope when not in use; the snake coiled itself before springing.

2. To encircle and hold with, or as with, coils. [Obs. or R.] T. Edwards.

Coil, v. i. To wind itself cylindrically or spirally; to form a coil; to wind; — often with about or around.

You can see his flery serpents . . . Coiting, playing in the water. Longfellow.

Coil, n. 1. A ring, series of rings, or spiral, into which a rope, or other like thing, is wound.

The wild grapevines that twisted their coils from trec to tree. W. Irving.

2. Fig.: Entanglement; toil; mesh; perplexity.

3. A series of connected pipes in rows or layers, as in a steam heating apparatus.

Induction coil. (Elec.) See under Induction. — Ruhmkorff's coil (Elec.), an induction coil, sometimes so called from Ruhmkorff, a prominent manufacturer of the apparatus.

Coil, n. [Of Celtic origin; cf. Gael. goil fume, rage.] A noise, tumult, bustle, or confusion. [Obs.] Shak.