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

What had happened, according to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, was that a man named Jalen Welch, 25, walked into the argument holding a pistol in a threatening manner and approached the shooter, described as a man from Oak Park. —Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 7 Aug. 2025

The nephew had fallen asleep on the couch and was awakened by a man holding a pistol. —Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 6 Aug. 2025

The Harbison sisters and Thomas were shot in the head execution style with a .22 pistol. —EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Ricardo pulled the trigger of his 9mm pistol one time under circumstances that are in dispute. —Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Aug. 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"