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Webster 1913 Edition


Pistol

Pis′tol

,
Noun.
[F.
pistole
,
pistolet
, It.
pistola
; prob. from a form
Pistola
, for
Pistoja
, a town in Italy where pistols were first made. Cf.
Pistole
.]
The smallest firearm used, intended to be fired from one hand, – now of many patterns, and bearing a great variety of names. See Illust. of
Revolver
.
Pistol carbine
,
a firearm with a removable but-piece, and thus capable of being used either as a pistol or a carbine.
Pistol pipe
(Metal.)
,
a pipe in which the blast for a furnace is heated, resembling a pistol in form.
Pistol shot
.
(a)
The discharge of a pistol
.
(b)
The distance to which a pistol can propel a ball.

Pis′tol

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Pistoled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Pistoling
.]
[Cf. F.
pistoler
.]
To shoot with a pistol.
“To pistol a poacher.”
Sydney Smith.

Webster 1828 Edition


Pistol

PIS'TOL

,
Noun.
A small fire-arm, or the smallest fire-arm used, differing from a musket chiefly in size. Pistols are of different lengths, and borne by horsemen in cases at the saddle bow, or by a girdle. Small pistols are carried in the pocket.

PIS'TOL

,
Verb.
T.
To shoot with a pistol.

Definition 2024


pistol

pistol

See also: pistöł

English

Noun

pistol (plural pistols)

  1. A handgun, typically with a chamber integrated in the barrel, a semi-automatic action and a box magazine.
  2. The mechanical component of a fuse in a bomb or torpedo responsible for firing the detonator.
  3. A creative and unpredictable jokester, a constant source of entertainment and surprises.
    • 2011, Diane Lierow, Bernie Lierow, Kay West, Dani's Story: A Journey from Neglect to Love, page 81:
      She was gregarious, opinionated, and in charge, the kind of person you'd describe as a real pistol, and I was immediately drawn to her.
    • February 2012, Thomas Pugsley, Denial (episode) in Young Justice (TV series):
      KENT NELSON —Until my wife Inza convinced me there was more to life. Ah, she was a real pistol, that Inza.
    • 2012, Jimmy Correa, How My Prank Stories in ‘You Tube’ Made Me an Overnight Sensation, iUniverse, page 102:
      She features so many dance tunes and is a pistol with her sharp and witty remarks.
  4. (Southern US) A small boy who is bright, alert and very active.
  5. (American football) A play formation in which the quarterback is a few feet behind the center when the ball is snapped, but closer than in a shotgun formation, with a running back a few feet behind him.

Usage notes

Shooters normally differentiate between a pistol and a revolver, which is named after its rotating chamber; however, in common usage, the word pistol is also imprecisely used to refer to any type of handgun.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

pistol (third-person singular simple present pistols, present participle pistoling, simple past and past participle pistoled)

  1. (transitive) To shoot (at) a target with a pistol.

See also

Anagrams


Danish

Etymology

From Middle French pistole or from German Pistole, either from Italian pistola or from Czech píšťala (whistle), from Proto-Slavic *piščalь, from *piskati, *piščati (to squeak, whistle), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *pīṣk-.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pistoːl/, [pʰiˈsd̥oːˀl]

Noun

pistol c (singular definite pistolen, plural indefinite pistoler)

  1. handgun, pistol

Inflection

See also


Indonesian

Etymology

From Dutch pistool. Ultimately from Czech píšťala (whistle), from Proto-Slavic *piščalь, from *piskati, *piščati (to squeak, whistle), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *pīṣk-.

Noun

pistol

  1. a pistol (gun)

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Czech píšťala (whistle, because of the shape), via German Pistole

Noun

pistol m (definite singular pistolen, indefinite plural pistoler, definite plural pistolene)

  1. a pistol (firearm)
    • Langs veggene sto politimenn med dystre ansikter, truende, med hendene på pistolene sine. Along the walls policemen stood menacingly with sombre faces, and with hands on their pistols.

References


Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Czech píšťala (whistle), via German Pistole

Noun

pistol m (definite singular pistolen, indefinite plural pistolar, definite plural pistolane)

  1. a pistol (firearm)

References


Swedish

Etymology

Ultimately from Czech píšťala (whistle), from Proto-Slavic *piščalь, from *piskati, *piščati (to squeak, whistle), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *pīṣk-.

Pronunciation

Noun

pistol c

  1. a pistol (gun)

Declension

Inflection of pistol 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative pistol pistolen pistoler pistolerna
Genitive pistols pistolens pistolers pistolernas

Related terms

See also