recoil-operated

adjective

re·​coil-op·​er·​at·​ed ˈrē-ˌkȯi(-ə)l-ˈä-pə-ˌrā-təd 

ri-ˈkȯi(-ə)l-,

-ˈä-ˌprā-təd

of a firearm

: utilizing the movement of parts in recoil to operate the action

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above