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
- fireball
- live wire
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a real pistol, she dances rings around the other performers
Recent Examples on the Web But in Georgia, an 18-year-old could legally possess a handgun, and Evan thought of the pistol as his own. 
Stephanie Mccrummen, Washington Post, 31 July 2022 Police then spotted the handgrip of a pistol under the driver’s seat. Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 29 July 2022 He was charged in 2020 with marijuana possession, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a pistol or revolver by a person under 18, and not wearing a motorcycle helmet, according to court records. Alexis Stevens, ajc, 8 June 2022 Kay Ivey doesn’t need the false assurance of a pistol in her pocket. al, 18 May 2022 Jewayne Price, 22, was arrested the day of the shooting and was charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol, police said in a news release. Jamiel Lynch, CNN, 18 Apr. 2022 Police had arrested Price on suspicion of unlawful possession of a pistol after initially taking him in for questioning, the Columbia Police Department said. NBC News, 18 Apr. 2022 Jewayne Price, 22, was arrested Sunday and charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol, but Holbrook said more charges are coming. Paul Best, Fox News, 18 Apr. 2022 Price will be charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol and may face other charges, according to a police release. Cady Stanton, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2022 See More
Stephanie Mccrummen, Washington Post, 31 July 2022 Police then spotted the handgrip of a pistol under the driver’s seat. Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 29 July 2022 He was charged in 2020 with marijuana possession, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a pistol or revolver by a person under 18, and not wearing a motorcycle helmet, according to court records. Alexis Stevens, ajc, 8 June 2022 Kay Ivey doesn’t need the false assurance of a pistol in her pocket. al, 18 May 2022 Jewayne Price, 22, was arrested the day of the shooting and was charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol, police said in a news release. Jamiel Lynch, CNN, 18 Apr. 2022 Police had arrested Price on suspicion of unlawful possession of a pistol after initially taking him in for questioning, the Columbia Police Department said. NBC News, 18 Apr. 2022 Jewayne Price, 22, was arrested Sunday and charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol, but Holbrook said more charges are coming. Paul Best, Fox News, 18 Apr. 2022 Price will be charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol and may face other charges, according to a police release. Cady Stanton, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
pistol
noun
pis·tol ˈpi-stᵊl
: a small gun made to be aimed and fired with one hand
pistoled
verb
variants or pistolled
as in blasted (at)
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- blasted (at)
- shotgunned
- fired (at)
- tommy-gunned
- brought down
- wiped out
- picked off
- blew away
- destroyed
- sniped (at)
- killed
- blotted out
- peppered
- did in
- shot down
- dispatched
- slaughtered
- machine-gunned
- potshot
- blazed
- decimated
- iced
- annihilated
- felled
- croaked
- butchered
- drilled
- slew
- massacred
- gunned
- dropped
- plugged
- popped
- shot
- pill-bearing spurge
- pillage
- pillaged
- pillager
- pillagers
- pillages
- pillaging
- pillar
- pillar and scroll
- pillar bolt
- pillar box
- pillar crane
- pillar dollar
- pillar drawing
- pillar file
- pillar light
- pillar lip
- pillar mount
- Pillar of Fire
- pillar of strength
- pillar of the diaphragm
- pillar plate
- pillar press
- pillar robbing
- pillar root