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

Examples of pistol in a Sentence

a real pistol, she dances rings around the other performers

Recent Examples on the Web

In the car, officers found a safe, all of the children's passports as well as Jenny Boelter's, about $10,000 in cash, a revolver pistol in the glove box and another semi-automatic pistol in a cooler, the FBI said in the complaint. —N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 27 June 2025

He was then stopped again by police in his hometown of Murfreesboro, where police took another pistol off him. —Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025

Five agents — several covering their faces with gaiters and armed with pistols — stood between the vehicles. —Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025

This might be the starter pistol for more serious iPhone 16e discounts in the coming months. —Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 19 June 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"