coiled

1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of coil

comparative more coiled · superlative most coiled

1. In the form of coils; having coils.

   a coiled serpent

2. Prepared and poised to act, like a snake that has coiled its lower body so it can strike.

   Nicole Kidman’s coiled intensity and muscular direction by Phillip Noyce give this nautical thriller a disquieting sense of dread.

   (Can we date this quote?), Rotten Tomatoes, (Please provide the book title or journal name)

   1 more example

   Two first-half goals from the Colombian forward Radamel Falcao won the game, allowing Atlético to spend the final hour or so sitting deep, coiled always for a breakaway.

   2012 May 9, Jonathan Wilson, “Europa League: Radamel Falcao's Atlético Madrid rout Athletic Bilbao”, in The Guardian