Link Centre Dictionary

pistol

pis·tol

UK/ˈpɪstəl/ US/ˈpɪstəl] ~ [ˈpɪstl̩/ fairly common

noun

1.

a firearm that is held and fired with one hand

Synonyms

Origin

Probably from Middle French pistole, or via Middle English pistolet, from Middle French pistolet (“small firearm or small dagger”). The origin is unclear. If via German to Romance probably from Middle High German forms like pischulle from Czech píšťala (“firearm”, literally “tube, pipe”), from Proto-Slavic *piščalь, from *piskati, *piščati (“to squeak, whistle”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *pīṣk-. Alternatively, if from Romance to German, from or related to Italian pistolese (“short dagger”), from Italian Pistoia (“a Tuscan town noted for its gunsmithing”).

Phrases

  • air pistol
  • cap pistol
  • captive bolt pistol
  • dueling pistol
  • duelling pistol
  • horse pistol
  • hot as a pistol
  • hotter than a pistol

Related words

Word family

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.