paintball

[ peynt-bawl ]

noun

1. a game in which players mark their opponents with colored gelatin capsules shot out of an air gun.

Word History and Origins

Origin of paintball¹

First recorded in 1985-90; paint + ball ¹

Example Sentences

One store offers the chance to shoot costumed workers with a paintball gun.

From Washington Post

He was wearing body armor and goggles and carrying a baseball bat and a paintball gun, chasing one person who was beaten by a person seen with Klein, prosecutors alleged.

From Washington Post

Even some paintball manufacturers have tried to implement this concept in their markers.

From Popular-Science

It never really caught on in a big way, though, in part because some players found that the paintballs slowed down more during the course of their flight, which prevented them from breaking on impact.

From Popular-Science

Obviously, paintballs would break if they hit a ridge in the barrel, so manufacturers attempted to cut vents in the top of the barrels to let air escape.

From Popular-Science

“You could be an individual going to the paintball range and play by yourself,” says York.

From The Daily Beast

No longer would they have crazy adventures like campus-wide paintball and lava matches.

From The Daily Beast

Electric batons, wooden bats, tear gas, and paintball bullets were all weapons of choice.

From The Daily Beast