pepper spray

American  

noun

1. 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.

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pepper spray British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of pepper spray

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

Example Sentences

“Rather than move immediately to pepper spray, you can arrest the person.”

From Salon

According to videos taken on the scene, Pretti was holding a phone, not a handgun, when he stepped in front of a federal agent who was targeting a woman with pepper spray.

From Los Angeles Times

Border Patrol’s Use of Force policy permits officers to deploy “less-lethal devices,” including pepper spray, for crowd control when protesters act violently or aggressively in ways that suggest they could physically injure officers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Judge Katherine Menendez earlier ruled that federal agents cannot arrest or pepper spray peaceful demonstrations, including those monitoring or observing ICE agents.

From BBC

“Border Patrol deployed pepper spray,” one communication read just after 11 a.m. local time.

From The Wall Street Journal