A holster is a holder for a small gun, which is worn on a belt around someone's waist or on a strap around their shoulder.
holster in British English
(ˈhəʊlstə)
noun
1.
a sheathlike leather case for a pistol, attached to a belt or saddle
2. mountaineering
a similar case for an ice axe or piton hammer
Derived forms
holstered (ˈholstered)
adjective
Word origin
C17: via Dutch holster from Germanic; compare Old Norse hulstr sheath, Old English heolstor darkness, Gothic hulistr cover
holster in American English
(ˈhoʊlstər)
noun
1.
a pistol case, usually of leather and attached to a belt, saddle, or shoulder strap
verb transitive
2.
to place in a holster
Word origin
Du, akin to Goth hulistr, a cover, ON hulstr, a sheath, OE heolstor, darkness, cover < IE base *el-, to conceal (> hall, hull2) + Gmc noun suffix -stra-