pistol

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Derived terms 1.3.3 Translations 1.4 Verb 1.5 See also 1.6 Anagrams 2 Indonesian 2.1 Noun

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ɪstəl

[edit] Etymology

Probably from Middle French pistole, plausibly from German Pistole, from Czech pis'tala "firearm", literally "tube, pipe", from pisteti "to whistle", of imitative origin, related to Russian (pischal) "shepherd's pipe; harquebus". Perhaps however from Middle English pistolet, from Middle French 'small firearm or small dagger', which may be from Italian pistolese 'from Pistoia (a city in Tuscany)'.

[edit] Noun

pistol (plural pistols)

1. A handgun, typically with a chamber integrated in the barrel, a semi-automatic action and a box magazine.
2. The mechanical component of a fuse in a bomb or torpedo responsible for firing the detonator
3. (Shakespeare) a creative and unpredictable jokester, a constant source of entertainment and surprises
4. (Southern US) A small boy who is bright, alert and very active

[edit] Usage notes

Shooters normally differentiate between a pistol and a revolver, which is named after its rotating chamber; however, in common usage, the word pistol is also imprecisely used to refer to any type of handgun.

[edit] Derived terms

• machine pistol
• muff pistol
• pistoleer
• pistol grip
• pistol-whip
• starting pistol

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to pistol (third-person singular simple present pistols, present participle pistoling, simple past and past participle pistoled)

1. (transitive) To shoot (at) a target with a pistol

[edit] See also

• derringer
• pistole
• gat
• rod

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: ilopst
• pilots
• postil
• spoilt

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[edit] Indonesian

From ?Dutch

[edit] Noun

pistol

1. A pistol, gun type