nerf

Etymology 1

Circa 1950s?

verb

1. (motor racing, transitive) To bump lightly, whether accidentally or purposefully.
   A racer will often nerf another as a psychological tactic.

Etymology 2

From the Nerf brand of toys designed as non-dangerous counterparts of existing things, such as sports balls and guns. Originally used to equate a change in the damage of a weapon in a video game to a change from real weapons to Nerf weapons.

verb

1. (transitive, slang, video games) To change a mechanic, an ability or a character in a video game in order to make a previously dominant strategy less viable or less effective.
   The lightning spell was originally pretty powerful, but in the sequel they nerfed it so it became completely useless.
2. (transitive, slang) To arbitrarily limit or reduce the capability of.
   Tesla nerfs Autopilot in Europe due to new regulations 2019-05-17, Fred Lambert, Electrek, retrieved 2019-05-19

noun

1. (slang, video games) The deterioration, weakening or worsening of a character, a weapon, a spell, etc.