pistol

noun

pis·​tol ˈpi-stᵊl How to pronounce pistol (audio)
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 sergeant was sitting in his patrol car working on his laptop, when a gunman, identified later as 40-year-old Andy Morales, rolled up to the sergeant’s car and fired .223 rounds from an AR pistol at the sergeant before driving off. Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024 The pistol is one of several weapons found in Allen’s home in 2022, prosecutors said. Zoe Sottile, CNN, 28 Oct. 2024 An unspent round from a .40-caliber pistol found near their bodies came from a gun owned by Allen, a probable cause affidavit in the case alleged. Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 19 Oct. 2024 Police determined the frame of the gun, or the lower portion of the pistol, was 3D-printed, Page said. Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pistol 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pistol.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French pistole, from German, from Middle High German pischulle, from Czech píšt'ala, literally, pipe, fife; akin to Czech pištět to squeak

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pistol was circa 1560

Dictionary Entries Near pistol

Cite this Entry

“Pistol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pistol. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

pistol

noun
pis·​tol ˈpis-tᵊl How to pronounce pistol (audio)
: 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"

More from Merriam-Webster on pistol

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