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

On Friday, when police arrived at Garnett's residence to serve a search warrant, Garnett fled on foot with a pistol in a holster on his hip. —Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2025

In May, 1967, the Black Panthers entered the California Capitol Building with shotguns, pistols, and rifles to protest stricter gun-control laws. —Grace Byron, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025

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

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"