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What is "pepper spray"

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
pepper spray
noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ After police used pepper spray to subdue the man, paramedics were called because he was having difficulty breathing, police reported.
▪ Donaldo Arauz, 35, did not drop his weapon even after he was sprayed with pepper spray and hit with batons.
▪ In Internet chat rooms, backpackers debate carrying guns and pepper spray.
▪ Police responded with nightsticks and pepper spray, further inflaming the crowd.
▪ The fights in Seattle were broken up with pepper spray when as many as 4,000 people crowded into the streets.
▪ The medical examiner has not said whether pepper spray was responsible.
Wiktionary
pepper spray

n. A non-lethal chemical agent which is used in riot control and personal self-defense.

WordNet
pepper spray

n. a nonlethal aerosol spray made with the pepper derivative oleorsein capiscum; used to cause temporary blindness and incapacitate an attacker; also used as a bear deterrent

Wikipedia
Pepper spray

Pepper Spray is a lachrymatory agent (a chemical compound that irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain, and temporary blindness) used in policing, riot control, crowd control, against protestors, and personal self-defense, including defense against dogs and bears. Its inflammatory effects cause the eyes to close, taking away vision. This temporary blindness allows officers to more easily restrain subjects and permits people using pepper spray for self-defense an opportunity to escape. Although considered a less-than-lethal agent, it has been deadly in rare cases, and concerns have been raised about a number of deaths where being pepper sprayed may have been a contributing factor.

Usage examples of "pepper spray".

Look, I've got a can of pepper spray in my purse and a whistle on my key ring.

I was wearing my Doc Martens in case I had to kick someone, and I'd attached the pepper spray to my belt for instant access.

I took the pepper spray out of my shoulder bag and clipped it onto the waistband of my Levi's.

I got a black nylon web utility belt from the back of the Buick and strapped it on, arming it with a stun gun, pepper spray, and cuffs.

In spite of that pepper spray, I'd say that it might be time to enforce your ‘.

I went into a fit of coughing while I tried to remember what the treatment for pepper spray was.

I did a mental inventory of my shoulder bag and realized the only genuine weapon was a small canister of pepper spray.

The only thing that didn't get tossed was a can of pepper spray, which the black woman placed in her handbag.

I told her, pulling an industrial-size can of pepper spray out of my bag, shaking the can to make sure it was active.