1
: a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel
broadly
: handgun
2
: a notably sharp, spirited, or energetic person
pistol
transitive verb
Examples of pistol in a Sentence
a real pistol, she dances rings around the other performers
Recent Examples on the Web
Solis is facing charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell, operating a drug factory, weapons in a motor vehicle, criminal possession of a pistol or revolver, criminal possession of ammunition, theft of a firearm and various motor vehicle violations.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2025
Firearms, explosive devices recovered amid investigation Jackson said the ATF completed traces for a semi-automatic 9mm pistol and semi-automatic rifle that were recovered from Jabbar.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025
The affidavit says Pemberton was spotted in a ride-share vehicle on Christmas in Florida’s capital carrying three firearms, including an AR-15 rifle, a 9mm Luger pistol and a Galil rifle, along with ammunition.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
Most Mysterious: Kim Yeji The South Korean pistol shooter, who won silver at the Paris Olympics, was one of the breakouts from the games thanks to her cooler-than-cool demeanor.
—Kristen Tauer, WWD, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pistol 
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Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2025
Firearms, explosive devices recovered amid investigation Jackson said the ATF completed traces for a semi-automatic 9mm pistol and semi-automatic rifle that were recovered from Jabbar.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025
The affidavit says Pemberton was spotted in a ride-share vehicle on Christmas in Florida’s capital carrying three firearms, including an AR-15 rifle, a 9mm Luger pistol and a Galil rifle, along with ammunition.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
Most Mysterious: Kim Yeji The South Korean pistol shooter, who won silver at the Paris Olympics, was one of the breakouts from the games thanks to her cooler-than-cool demeanor.
—Kristen Tauer, WWD, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pistol
Dictionary Entries Near pistol
Cite this Entry
“Pistol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pistol. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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"
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