pistol

noun

pis·​tol ˈpi-stᵊl 

1

: a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel

broadly : handgun

2

: a notably sharp, spirited, or energetic person

pistol transitive verb

Synonyms

• dynamo
• fireball
• live wire

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

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

Phrases Containing pistol

• machine pistol
• pistol grip
• pistol-whip
• Very pistol
• water pistol

Kids 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"