1. a battery-powered, hand-held weapon that fires an electric charge when held against a person and activated by a trigger or button, used, esp. by police, to immobilize a person briefly and without injury.
2. any of various hand-held weapons that shoot small pellet-filled bags, tranquilizer darts, darts attached to electric wires, or the like to immobilize a person or animal briefly and without injury.
[ 1965-70 ]