pistol
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
-
a short-barrelled handgun
-
to threaten a person in order to force him to do what one wants
verb
Other Word Forms
- pistollike adjective
Etymology
Origin of pistol
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
Compare meaning
How does pistol compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A pistol is a small handgun. Unlike a shotgun or a rifle, you can hold and fire a pistol with one hand. Sometimes the word pistol is used for any handgun, but many people distinguish between the pistol, with its single chamber, and the revolver, which has a cylinder that rotates and holds many bullets. The earliest pistols were used in sixteenth century Europe, and the English word comes from the Middle French pistolet, meaning both "small firearm" and "small dagger." You can also call someone who's full of energy a pistol.
Vocabulary lists containing pistol
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.
After arresting the owners, officers also searched their vehicle, where they found an air pistol - possession of which requires a licence and supervision for under 18s - a police scanner, and more cash.
From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026
He was carrying an assault weapon, a pistol and the equivalent of nearly $1.4 million on him when he died, Trevilla added.
From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026
Eliminated exams include “Judgment pistol shooting,” “Criminal encounters,” and “Determine removability.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026
The images also showed that the person was carrying a holstered pistol.
From Salon • Feb. 13, 2026
You just put your feet on, wait for the starting pistol, and push off, right?
From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée
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.
