n.
- A sharp reaction; a repercussion.
- Slang. A return of a percentage of a sum of money already received, typically as a result of pressure, coercion, or a secret agreement.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.