pistole
Americannoun
-
a former gold coin of Spain, equal to two escudos.
-
any of various former gold coins of Europe, as the louis d'or.
noun
Etymology
Origin of pistole
1585–95; < Middle French, back formation from pistolet the coin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But it seems to me there are some two thousand of them who cry 'Vive le Roi' for half a pistole, but would cry 'Vivent nous autres' for nothing.
From St George's Cross by H. G. (Henry George) Keene
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 John Fiske
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 Charles Campbell
As for the prices paid for the lots—it is surprising to find a foreign coin, the Spanish pistole, as the basic unit of currency.
From Seaport in Virginia George Washington's Alexandria by Gay Montague Moore
Clumsy muskets and fowling-pieces, as well as Arab pistole, were also handled with delight by the joyful Mussulmans.
From Lander's Travels The Travels of Richard Lander into the Interior of Africa by Robert Huish
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
