pistol

CEFRC1

/ˈpɪstəl/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A small gun designed to be held in one hand.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A handgun, The type of handgun with the chamber integral with the barrel.

Examples

  • A pistol bullet went clean through his leg.

  • Bill was careless in handling his pistol.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
2

Also pronounced

  • [ˈpɪstəl] ~ [ˈpɪstl̩]

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. The mechanical component of a fuse in a bomb or torpedo responsible for firing the detonator.

  2. A handgun

  3. The type of handgun with the chamber integral with the barrel.

More examples

In context

  • KENT NELSON —Until my wife Inza convinced me there was more to life. Ah, she was a real pistol, that Inza.

  • She leveled her pistol at the target.

  • She features so many dance tunes and is a pistol with her sharp and witty remarks.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

He kept a loaded blank in his desk drawer for protection.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

Probably from Middle French pistole, or via Middle English pistolet, from Middle French pistolet (“small firearm or small dagger”). The origin is unclear. If via German to Romance probably from Middle High German forms like pischulle from Czech píšťala (“firearm”, literally “tube, pipe”), from Proto-Slavic *piščalь, from *piskati, *piščati (“to squeak, whistle”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *pīṣk-. Alternatively, if from Romance to German, from or related to Italian pistolese (“short dagger”), from Italian Pistoia (“a Tuscan town noted for its gunsmithing”).