1
: a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel
broadly
: handgun
2
: a notably sharp, spirited, or energetic person
pistol
transitive verb
Examples of pistol in a Sentence
a real pistol, she dances rings around the other performers
Recent Examples on the Web
The switches, which can be purchased for less than $20 or created on a 3D printer, allow the pistols to fire up to 1,200 rounds per minute, according to Platkin.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
The pistol was loaded with a Glock magazine containing six nine-millimeter full metal jacket rounds.
—Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Altoona police found the polymer pistol affixed with a metal slide and threaded barrel in Mangione’s backpack, according to the criminal complaint.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Using wiretaps and surveillance, in addition to search warrants, agents and officers recovered roughly 33 kilogram-sized packages of cocaine and more than 6 kilograms of fentanyl, eight loaded firearms and one imitation pistol, officials said.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pistol 
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
The pistol was loaded with a Glock magazine containing six nine-millimeter full metal jacket rounds.
—Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Altoona police found the polymer pistol affixed with a metal slide and threaded barrel in Mangione’s backpack, according to the criminal complaint.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Using wiretaps and surveillance, in addition to search warrants, agents and officers recovered roughly 33 kilogram-sized packages of cocaine and more than 6 kilograms of fentanyl, eight loaded firearms and one imitation pistol, officials said.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pistol
Dictionary Entries Near pistol
Cite this Entry
“Pistol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pistol. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pistol
noun
pis·tol
ˈpis-tᵊl 
: a short firearm made to be aimed and fired with one hand
Etymology
from early French pistole "pistol," from German pistole (same meaning), derived from Czech píšt'ala, literally, "pipe, fife"
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