holster

[hohl-ster]

noun

1. a sheathlike carrying case for a firearm, attached to a belt, shoulder sling, or saddle.

verb (used with object)

1. to put or put back in a holster.

   to holster a gun.

holster

/ ˈhəʊlstə /

noun

1. a sheathlike leather case for a pistol, attached to a belt or saddle

2. mountaineering a similar case for an ice axe or piton hammer

Other Word Forms

• holstered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of holster¹

1655–65; < Dutch; cognate with Gothic hulistr, Old Norse hulstr sheath; akin to Old English helan to hide

Word History and Origins

Origin of holster¹

C17: via Dutch holster from Germanic; compare Old Norse hulstr sheath, Old English heolstor darkness, Gothic hulistr cover

Example Sentences

As for Cassiopeia, she had knitted a collection of eye patches for playing at pirates, and a holster to fit a toy dagger that Beowulf had gnawed for her out of a fallen tree branch.

Read more on Literature

Anyway, he carried a pistol in a holster and slept beside a torpedo that, for reasons they could only guess, had its tip painted purple.

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A woman had a 9mm pistol in a holster strapped on over her flowery dress.

Read more on BBC

The 4Runner drove off before Tacoma police arrived, and and an empty holster was found inside the vehicle when it was discovered abandoned days later.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It was Traoré who stole the show at the inauguration of Ghana's President John Mahama in January, when he arrived wearing battle fatigues with a pistol in his holster.

Read more on BBC