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

Macias fired the first shot at Sweet with a 9mm pistol because Macias said that Sweet ran over his foot, Burnette told the detectives. —Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2025

During that year, the .45-caliber pistol, which went missing from the Gresham District police station, was used in at least three crimes, Illinois Answers and the Sun-Times found. —David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025

One of them pulled a pistol and opened fire, striking Carmona in the head before all three escaped toward New York Ave. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 6 May 2025

Arenas later pleaded guilty to a felony charge of carrying an unlicensed pistol and was sentenced to two years of probation and 30 days in a halfway house, per NPR. —Nasha Smith, People.com, 6 May 2025

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

Rhymes for pistol

• distal
• pistil
• polycrystal

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"