pepper spray

noun

an aerosol spray that temporarily irritates the eyes and mucous membranes, used to stun and incapacitate a person or animal: police use of pepper spray to control rioters.

Origin of pepper spray

First recorded in 1985–90; the active ingredient is capsaicin, extracted from capsicum peppers

Words nearby pepper spray

pepper family, pepper game, pepper mill, pepper pot, pepper spot, pepper spray, pepper steak, pepper tree, pepper-and-salt, pepper-upper, pepperbox

Example sentences from the Web for pepper spray

  • He turned it and let the door crash open as two cops in riot-visors came through, pepper-spray at the fore.

    Makers |Cory Doctorow

  • It was a little stainless-steel aerosol canister that looked for all the world like a pepper-spray self-defense unit.

    Little Brother |Cory Doctorow

  • The cops were running for them, batons out, pepper-spray out.

    Makers |Cory Doctorow

British Dictionary definitions for pepper spray

pepper spray

noun

a defence spray agent derived from hot cayenne peppers, which causes temporary blindness and breathing difficulty, sometimes used to control riots