pistole

See also: Pistole

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French pistole, of uncertain origin. Probably ultimately from Czech píšťala (“whistle”), from Proto-Slavic *piščalь, from *piskati, *piščati (“to squeak, whistle”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *pīṣk-.

Alternatively, perhaps from Pistoia (a city in Tuscany).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɪstəʊl/, /pɪˈstəʊl/
• IPA^(key): /ˈpɪstoʊl/, /pɪˈstoʊl/

Noun

pistole (plural pistoles)

1. (historical) A Spanish gold double-escudo coin of the mid-sixteenth century, or any of various gold coins derived from or based on this. [from 16th c.]
   • 1793, Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin‎^[1], §21:

     Ralph and I were inseparable Companions. We took Lodgings together in Little Britain at 3/6 per Week, as much as we could then afford. He found some Relations, but they were poor & unable to assist him. He now let me know his Intentions of remaining in London, and that he never meant to return to Philadelphia. He had brought no Money with him, the whole he could muster having been expended in paying his Passage. I had 15 Pistoles: So he borrowed occasionally of me, to subsist while he was looking out for Business. [...]

Anagrams

• Polites, elispot, piolets, polites, topiles

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Czech

Etymology

From German Pistole, from French pistole, probably ultimately from Czech píšťala (“whistle”), from Proto-Slavic *piščalь, from *piskati, *piščati (“to squeak, whistle”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *pīṣk-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈpɪstolɛ]

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

pistole f

1. pistol

Further reading

• Template:R:PSJC
• Template:R:SSJC

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French

Etymology

Origin uncertain. Probably ultimately from Czech píšťala (“whistle”), from Proto-Slavic *piščalь, from *piskati, *piščati (“to squeak, whistle”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *pīšk-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pis.tɔl/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

pistole f (plural pistoles)

1. (historical) pistole (coin)

Further reading

• “pistole”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

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Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /piˈstɔ.le/
• Rhymes: -ɔle
• Hyphenation: pi‧stò‧le

Noun

pistole f

1. plural of pistola

Anagrams

• poliste, sepolti, stipole

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Middle French

Etymology

First attested 1544, of uncertain origin. Probably ultimately from Czech píšťala (“whistle”), from Proto-Slavic *piščalь, from *piskati, *piščati (“to squeak, whistle”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *pīṣk-.

Noun

pistole f (plural pistoles)

1. pistol (small gun)

References

• Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l’ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IX^e au XV^e siècle (1881) (pistole)