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

New Zealand has strict gun laws, which require an additional permit for possessing pistols specifically. —Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025

Police said the investigation uncovered a series of videos, alleged to have been taken in Milpitas by the suspect or an acquaintance, showing a person repeatedly firing an semiautomatic pistol into the air and at a wall. —Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025

When officers responded to the building, Jones was on a couch shirtless, with Jack’s pistol under his arm — and the couple’s wallets and credit cards in his pockets, court documents say. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025

His instincts anticipated the figurative starter’s pistol. —Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 29 Sep. 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"