Pistol — Pis tol, n. [F. pistole, pistolet, It. pistola; prob. from a form Pistola, for Pistoja, a town in Italy where pistols were first made. Cf. {Pistole}.] The smallest firearm used, intended to be fired from one hand, now of many patterns, and… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Pistol carbine — Pistol Pis tol, n. [F. pistole, pistolet, It. pistola; prob. from a form Pistola, for Pistoja, a town in Italy where pistols were first made. Cf. {Pistole}.] The smallest firearm used, intended to be fired from one hand, now of many patterns, and … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Pistol shot — Pistol Pis tol, n. [F. pistole, pistolet, It. pistola; prob. from a form Pistola, for Pistoja, a town in Italy where pistols were first made. Cf. {Pistole}.] The smallest firearm used, intended to be fired from one hand, now of many patterns, and … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
pistol — (n.) small hand held firearm, c.1570, from M.Fr. pistole short firearm (1566), of uncertain origin, sometimes said to be from Ger. Pistole, from Czech pis tala firearm, lit. tube, pipe, from pisteti to whistle, of imitative origin, related to Rus … Etymology dictionary
pistol — [pis′təl] n. [Fr pistole < Ger < Czech pišt al, pistol, orig., pipe, prob. < pisk, echoic word for a whistling sound] 1. a small firearm made to be held and fired with one hand 2. such a firearm in which the chamber is part of the barrel … English World dictionary
pistol — pistollike, adj. /pis tl/, n., v., pistoled, pistoling or (esp. Brit.) pistolled, pistolling. n. 1. a short firearm intended to be held and fired with one hand. v.t. 2. to shoot with a pistol. [1560 70; < MF pistole < G, earlier pitschal,… … Universalium
pistol — [16] Pistol is one of a very small and select group of words contributed to English by Czech (others are howitzer and robot). It comes via German pistole from Czech pišt’ala, which literally means ‘pipe’ (it is related to Russian pischal… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
pistol — [16] Pistol is one of a very small and select group of words contributed to English by Czech (others are howitzer and robot). It comes via German pistole from Czech pišt’ala, which literally means ‘pipe’ (it is related to Russian pischal… … Word origins
Pistol — This surname derives from the Old French Pestel , itself a derivative of the Latin Pestillum , translating as to crush or grind . The surname is an English medieval metonymic for a user of a Pestel i.e., a herbalist or early chemist. The modern… … Surnames reference
pistol — noun Etymology: Middle French pistole, from German, from Middle High German pischulle, from Czech píšt ala, literally, pipe, fife; akin to Czech pištět to squeak Date: circa 1570 1. a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel; broadly… … New Collegiate Dictionary
