ray gun

noun

1. a gun that can fire bursts of usually destructive or lethal rays:

   a science fiction novel whose hero has a ray gun made of gold.

2. a child's futuristic toy gun that emits sparks, whirring noises, etc.

ray gun

noun

1. (in science fiction) a gun that emits rays to paralyse, stun, or destroy

Word History and Origins

Origin of ray gun¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

We entered a nearby conference room with a boardroom table, where I used handheld controllers to pick up 3D objects like a toy ray gun and a bottle of Champagne.

From Seattle Times

“We’ve always joked, If Iowa doesn’t have the caucuses, are we Nebraska?” said Mike Draper, the owner of Ray Gun, a quirky T-shirt store in Des Moines frequently visited by candidates and their staffs.

From New York Times

I waited on the couch with the moms, encouraging her through the mirror to stay strong as the stylist annihilated her curls with what looked like a ray gun.

From Washington Post

It isn’t necessary to illustrate the lyric “Put your ray gun to my head,” from the song that lends the film its title, with a clip of a 1950s sci-fi monster getting its head blown off.

From Washington Post

He renamed his studio The Ray Gun Theater in 1962 and held performances there on weekends.

From New York Times