What is the difference between "taze" and "tase" in terms of usage and meaning?

Both "taze" and "tase" are words originating from "Taser," which is a brand name of a specific electroshock weapon. The inventor of this weapon, Jack Cover, named it "TASER," an acronym for "Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle." In terms of meaning, both "taze" and "tase" are slang terms that have come to be used to describe the action of using a Taser weapon on someone.

The difference essentially comes down to the spelling preference and regional usage:

• "Tase" will be more common in American English, following the American English spelling rules of changing the "z" to an "s" when adding an "e" at the end, like in "rise vs. rize."
• "Taze" might be more common in British English or other regions where the "z" is preserved in the spelling. It also preserves the original "z" spelling from the TASER brand name.

Ultimately both words express the same concept and are understood in the same way. In some circles, these words could also be considered "verbing," where a noun (in this case, a brand name) is used as a verb.

Learn more:

1. Grammarphobia - Zapped
2. Lexico - Definition of TASER
3. Merriam-Webster - Is it 'Taser' or 'Tazer'?