pistol Hear it!

pistol Definition

pis·tol (pistəl)

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 -·toled or -·tolled, -·tol·ing or -·tol·ling

to shoot with a pistol

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).

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.
  • duel: In seconds, the figure was wrestled to the ground and was feeling the cold muzzle of Andrews dueling pistol against their temple.
  • silence: You have a silenced pistol, which is great for shooting out lights.

Adjective modifier

  • self-loading: In 1903 the Colt Company began making self-loading pistols under license to Browning's designs.
  • semi-automatic: With changes in police firearms use policy they are now commonly shot with semi-automatic pistols.
  • loaded: The man pointed a loaded pistol at the officer who remained captive for over an hour.
  • captive: However, the captive bolt pistol does not always successfully stun the animal.
  • automatic: Thirdly, the automatic pistol, the most modern development.

Modifies a noun

  • grip: A pistol grip handle is fitted for ease of handling.
  • shooting: Mick Gault, a civil servant from Norfolk, now holds 15 pistol shooting medals won in four Commonwealth Games.
  • ammunition: My studies of the matter suggest that 50 rounds of pistol ammunition should suffice for an entire war.
  • shooter: He has remained Britain's top international pistol shooter to date.
  • cartridge: The purpose of a pistol cartridge is to turn your opponent off with one round.
  • bullet: A project on georgia farmers harvested pistol bullets can me with interest.

Noun used with modifier

  • flintlock: He rose, drawing a flintlock pistol from his belt.
  • captive-bolt: The dog had been shot through the head with a captive-bolt pistol, its ears cut off to remove identifying tattoos.
  • caliber: A family member recently sent in yet another multiple hit failure with a minor caliber pistol.
  • bolt: However, the captive bolt pistol does not always successfully stun the animal.
  • sex: Sex Pistols weren't involved or the Clash, they stayed away from these little groups.
pistol Quotes

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

—Lamb, Charles

Browse dictionary entries near pistol

  1. pistillate
  2. pistil
  3. piste
  4. pistareen
  5. pistachio
  6. pissoir
  7. pisser
  8. pissed
  9. Pissarro
  10. pissant
  1. pistol-whip
  2. pistole
  3. pistoleer
  4. piston
  5. piston ring
  6. piston rod
  7. pistou
  8. pit
  9. pit bull
  10. pit saw