pistol

pistol
pistol (n.) "small hand-held firearm," c.1570, from M.Fr. pistole "short firearm" (1566), of uncertain origin, sometimes said to be from Ger. Pistole, from Czech pis'tala "firearm," lit. "tube, pipe," from pisteti "to whistle," of imitative origin, related to Rus. pischal "shepherd's pipe." But earlier form pistolet (1550) is from M.Fr. pistolet "a small firearm," also "a small dagger," which may be the literal sense; though some connect this word with It. pistolese, in reference to Pistoia, town in Tuscany noted for gunsmithing. Pistol-whip is first recorded 1942.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Pistol — Pis tol, n. [F. pistole, pistolet, It. pistola; prob. from a form Pistola, for Pistoja, a town in Italy where pistols were first made. Cf. {Pistole}.] The smallest firearm used, intended to be fired from one hand, now of many patterns, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pistol — Pis tol, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pistoled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pistoling}.] [Cf. F. pistoler.] To shoot with a pistol. To pistol a poacher. Sydney Smith. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pistol — [pis′təl] n. [Fr pistole < Ger < Czech pišt al, pistol, orig., pipe, prob. < pisk, echoic word for a whistling sound] 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 …   English World dictionary

  • pistol — index gun Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • pistol — [n] revolver firearm, forty five*, gun, handgun, piece*, rod*, Saturday night special*, six shooter, thirty eight*; concept 500 …   New thesaurus

  • pistol — ► NOUN ▪ a small firearm designed to be held in one hand. ORIGIN French pistole, from Czech pi t ala, originally in the sense whistle , hence a firearm by the resemblance in shape …   English terms dictionary

  • pistol — PISTÓL1, pistoale, s.n. 1. Armă de foc de dimensiuni mici, mânuită cu o singură mână; revolver. ♢ Pistol mitralieră = armă automată uşoară, mai scurtă decât puşca mitralieră, cu bătaie mai mică şi mai uşor de mânuit; automat. Pistol de… …   Dicționar Român

  • pistol — n. 1) to cock; fire a pistol 2) to aim, point; level a pistol at 3) to load a pistol 4) to draw, whip out a pistol 5) an automatic; dueling; starting; toy; water pistol 6) the pistol fired, went off; jammed; misfired * * * [ pɪstl] dueling fire a …   Combinatory dictionary

  • pistol — n. & v. n. 1 a small hand held firearm. 2 anything of a similar shape. v.tr. (pistolled, pistolling; US pistoled, pistoling) shoot with a pistol. Phrases and idioms: hold a pistol to a person s head coerce a person by threats. pistol grip a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • pistol — pistollike, adj. /pis tl/, n., v., pistoled, pistoling or (esp. Brit.) pistolled, pistolling. n. 1. a short firearm intended to be held and fired with one hand. v.t. 2. to shoot with a pistol. [1560 70; < MF pistole < G, earlier pitschal,… …   Universalium

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