pistol

[ pis-tl ]

noun

1. a short firearm intended to be held and fired with one hand.

verb (used with object)

, pis·toled, pis·tol·ing or (especially British) pis·tolled, pis·tol·ling.

1. to shoot with a pistol.

pistol

/ ˈpɪstəl /

noun

1. a short-barrelled handgun
2. hold a pistol to a person's head
   hold a pistol to a person's head to threaten a person in order to force him to do what one wants

verb

1. tr to shoot with a pistol

Other Words From

• pistol·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pistol¹

1560–70; < Middle French pistole < German, earlier pitschal, pitschole, petsole < Czech píšt’ala literally, pipe, fife, whistle (presumably a slang term for a type of light harquebus employed during the Hussite wars), akin to pištět to squeak, peep

Word History and Origins

Origin of pistol¹

C16: from French pistole, from German, from Czech pišt'ala pistol, pipe; related to Russian pischal shepherd's pipes

Example Sentences

One officer hit a demonstrator and watched a pistol pop out of the rioter’s waistband.

From ProPublica

In a statement, police said Narumanchi was armed with a pistol and what appeared to be a shotgun, and was carrying two duffel bags.

From Washington Post

One man, for instance, was arrested and accused of carrying a pistol on the Capitol grounds.

From Washington Post

Coffman had an apparent license to carry a pistol in Alabama, prosecutors said.

From Washington Post

Prosecutors charged the youth with carrying a pistol without a license, possession of a firearm without registration and possession of ammunition without a license.

From Washington Post

Brinsley stepped up to the passenger side of the patrol car, raised a silver Taurus semi-automatic pistol and began firing.

From The Daily Beast

On October 5, 2013, Wilson pointed a pistol at a postal clerk.

From The Daily Beast

He pointed a pistol at a grocery checkout woman and swiped whatever cash he could into his pockets before booking it.

From The Daily Beast

A call made to police beforehand described Rice as “a guy with a pistol” on a swing set, but said it was “probably fake.”

From The Daily Beast

It was later reported that the weapon was a BB gun that appeared to be a .45-caliber pistol.

From The Daily Beast

After relievedly giving the pistol to the nearest soldier, he stumbled quickly over to Brion and took his hand.

From Project Gutenberg

The next moment a pistol was fired at their head, and a deep groan shewed it had taken too true an aim.

From Project Gutenberg

As you are doubtless aware, between civilians the small-sword, the rapier and the pistol are what are usually employed.

From Project Gutenberg

Yes; hes my boy, replied Sikes, looking hard at Oliver, and putting his hand abstractedly into the pocket where the pistol was.

From Project Gutenberg

Gone were the old days when a man drank till his brain was fire and his pistol went off by itself.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• firearm
• gun
• handgun
• rod