pistol Hear it!

pistol definition

pis·tol (pis′təl)

noun

  1. a small firearm made to be held and fired with one hand
  2. such a firearm in which the chamber is part of the barrel
  3. Track & Field a similar device used to start a race or to signal the beginning of the gun lap: it makes a loud sound but does not fire a projectile
  4. ☆ Slang a remarkable or unusual person, esp. one characterized by eccentric or impetuous behavior

Etymology: Fr pistole < Ger < Czech pišt'al, pistol, orig., pipe, prob. < pisk, echoic word for a whistling sound

transitive verb pistoled -·toled or pistolled -·tolled, pistoling -·tol·ing or pistolling -·tol·ling

to shoot with a pistol

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

pistol Synonyms

pistol

n.

revolver, automatic pistol, automatic, six-shooter, side arm, heater*, gat*, rod*, Saturday night special*, cannon*, six-gun, pepper pot*, barker*, pill shooter*, iron*, forty-five*, thirty-eight; see also gun 2, weapon 1.

Types of pistols include: automatic, repeating, Magnum, revolver, six-shooter, seven-shooter, Derringer, pocket, .22-caliber, .32-caliber, .38-caliber, .44-caliber, .45-caliber, 9-millimeter, Colt, Webley, Smith and Wesson, Ladysmith, Mauser, Nagant, Steyr, Browning, modèle d'ordonnance (French), Luger, Parabellum (both German).


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

pistol Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • brandish: Yet Mr Kamara did not brandished the pistol in public, let alone pulled the trigger, and had never physically assaulted anyone.

Adjective modifier

  • self-loading: In 1903 the Colt Company began making self-loading pistols under license to Browning's designs.

Modifies a noun

  • grip: A pistol grip handle is fitted for ease of handling.

Noun used with modifier

  • flintlock: He rose, drawing a flintlock pistol from his belt.
pistol usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

pistol quotes

A pistol let off at the ear; not a feather to tickle the intellect.

-Lamb, Charles

pistol quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"pistol." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/pistol>

APA Style

pistol. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/pistol

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment