recock

verb

re·​cock (ˌ)rē-ˈkäk 

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