Airbrush - Oxford Definition

An instrument, looking rather like an outsize fountain pen, which sprays paint or varnish by means of compressed air. It was first developed in the earlier 20th century in the fields of the graphic and commercial arts. Later it was adopted by various artists in movements such as Pop art and Superrealism who wished to give a smooth finish to their works, often in conscious imitation of the airbrush's association with the world of advertising.