tase

[ teyz ]

verb (used with object)

, tased, tas·ing.

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) to electrically stun (a living target) using a Taser or similar stun gun:

   She tased her stalker when he tried to force her into his car.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tase¹

1990–95; back formation from Taser ( def ), a trademarked proprietary name

Example Sentences

I sustained a heart attack and a traumatic brain injury after being tased numerous times at the base of my skull, as well as being severely beaten.

From Time

The City of Milwaukee approved a $750,000 settlement for Brown who was tased in 2018 by police after double parking.

From Essence.com

“We ain’t gonna tase him,” Officer Herbert Davis told Officer Brendan Thompson, as Trawick stood about seven feet from them.

From ProPublica

As Wright struggles away from the two men, the third officer is heard threatening to tase Wright.

From Washington Post

When Medina tried to walk away, Nunez put him in a chokehold that lasted more than 20 seconds and tased him multiple times.

From ProPublica

Sis Rhody, she sez she done save you de bes' puffovers you ever tase, en ef'n you don' come 'long down, dey'll fall right flat.

From Project Gutenberg

Lawd, Lawd, hit's a pity he ain' 'live agin des ter tase hese'f!

From Project Gutenberg

"Dis yer's gwine tase moughty flat-footed," she grumbled as she did so.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Tase

What does tase mean?

To tase is to attack with a Taser or other stun weapon, typically with the goal of incapacitation.

Tase comes from Taser, but in common usage it is used to refer to the action of using any such device (commonly called a stun gun). It is also spelled as taze.

Example: Police officers are often trained to tase suspects who pose a physical threat when resisting arrest.

Where does tase come from?

Tase originates from the name Taser, which is a trademark for a brand of electric weapon that stuns its human or animal target by direct contact or with wired barbs that are shot from the device. Taser was coined in the 1970s by its inventor, Jack Cover, who named it with an acronym based on the 1911 book that partly inspired the weapon: Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle. The A was added to make the acronym pronounceable. (You can read more about the book and the name here.)

The Taser was developed as a gun alternative, and it and similar weapons have become widespread in law enforcement as an alternative way to incapacitate suspects. (While the Taser and similar devices have been called a “nonlethal” or “less lethal” alternative to guns, tasing someone can still kill or injure them.) Civilians have also adopted such weapons for self-defense. This increase in use coincided with the appearance of the verb form tase (taser is also sometimes used as a verb). Although the company that owns the Taser trademark objects to any change or differing use of the name, the verb tase has been in popular use since at least the 1990s. It was further popularized after a 2007 incident at the University of Florida (and resulting viral video) in which a man shouted, “Don’t tase me, bro!” while being restrained by police (who did tase him).

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of tase?

• taze (alternate spelling)
• tased
• tasing

What are some words that often get used in discussing tase?

• police
• self-defense
• force
• brutality
• weapon

How is tase used in real life?

Tase is most often used in the context of its use by police or for self-defense.

(6/8) Then in August, police were called to a home in Logan City where Williams was allegedly beating his girlfriend in the front yard. When they arrived, officers tell me he was drunk and combative, and they had to tase him before arresting him. pic.twitter.com/IiygcrHHOg

— Kristina Rex (@KristinaRex) November 7, 2019

Why didn't the officer just tase the dude?#LivePD

— jannypantsss (@jannypantssss) December 7, 2019

When we were in Seattle in May I got to see the Apollo 11 Command Module. Did you know it was made with a lot of composite material? Resin to the moon!

I asked the guard if I could touch it. He laughed, then said, "No. I'll tase you."
Almost decided it was worth it. pic.twitter.com/ihzukEzXBd

— Shop Time (@kludge1977) July 22, 2019

 

Try using tase!

Use tase in a sentence describing a scenario in which a stun gun is used in self-defense.