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pistolero

American  
[pis-tl-air-oh, pees-taw-le-raw] / ˌpɪs tlˈɛər oʊ, ˌpis tɔˈlɛ rɔ /

noun

plural

pistoleros
  1. a member of an armed band of roving mounted bandits.

  2. a gunman or hired killer.


Etymology

Origin of pistolero

1935–40; < Spanish, equivalent to pistol ( a ) pistol + -ero < Latin -ārius -ary

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.

Un rudo pistolero retirado tiene problemas con su hijo adoptivo, cuando este se enamora de la misma mujer que él ama.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 11, 2020

Un hombre descubre un pueblo aterrorizado por la desaparición de cadáveres y reta a duelo a un pistolero sobrenatural.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 2, 2019

A crack shot with a six-shooter, he breaks the fourth wall by jocularly talking to the audience and praising his own pistolero skills.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 13, 2018

To prove Shanny wrong, Griffin will work fanatically now to learn to be a defense-reading pocket-passing NFL quarterback who also uses speed, not a college spread-offense pistolero.

From Washington Post • Dec. 13, 2013

He ran away to Mexico and grew up a pistolero in the service of a provincial dictator.

From Time Magazine Archive