pistole

American  

[pi-stohl] / pɪˈstoʊl /

noun

1. a former gold coin of Spain, equal to two escudos.

2. any of various former gold coins of Europe, as the louis d'or.

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pistole British  

/ pɪsˈtəʊl /

noun

1. any of various gold coins of varying value, formerly used in Europe

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Etymology

Origin of pistole

1585–95; < Middle French, back formation from pistolet the coin

Example Sentences

Of gold pieces there were the johannes, or joe, the doubloon, the moidore, and pistole, with English and French guineas, carolins, ducats, and chequins.

From The Critical Period of American History by Fiske, John

M. Rose assured him that he had put in his pistole.

From The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; containing a collection of over one thousand of the most laughable sayings and jokes of celebrated wits and humorists. by Various

Whoever carries to England, twenty-seven English shillings, and brings back one moidore, of full weight, is a gainer of ninepence Irish; in a guinea, the advantage is threepence, and twopence in a pistole.

From The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. — Volume 09 Contributions to The Tatler, The Examiner, The Spectator, and The Intelligencer by Swift, Jonathan

The moidore was worth six pieces of eight, the pistole four, the johannes eight.

From Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period Illustrative Documents by Jameson, J. Franklin (John Franklin)

A good horse could be bought for five pounds, and a good cow and calf for a pistole, or three dollars and sixty cents.

From History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia by Campbell, Charles