coiled

Etymology

verb

1. simple past and past participle of coil

adj

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