To shoot (someone) with a needle gun or needle ray.
- 1943 E.F. Russell Symbiotica Astounding S-F (Oct.) № 152/2: These things were the remains of the two natives he'd needled, but the needlers had not caused that awful rotting of the flesh.
- 1948 H.B. Piper Police Operation Astounding SF (July) № 18/1: And when I back-slip, after I've been needled, I generate a new time-line? Is that it?
- 1957 P. Anderson Brake Astounding SF (Aug.) № 10/2: Quickly, now, go to my cabin. I shall be behind. If necessary I will needle you and drag you there.
- 1979 L. Killough Doppelganger Gambit № 15: She let go of the gun. No sense needling him now.
- 1984 G.R. Dickson Final Encyclopedia № 235: Hal [...] went to look at the other two casualties, a woman who had taken a weapon burn in her right shoulder, superficial but painful, and a man who had been needled in the chest.
