pistol

See also: pistöł

EnglishEdit

 
A pistol formation.

EtymologyEdit

Probably from Middle French pistole, which probably via 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, from Middle English pistolet, from Middle French pistolet (“small firearm or small dagger”).

PronunciationEdit

  • IPA(key): /ˈpɪstəl/
  • Audio (US)
    		(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪstəl

NounEdit

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. A creative and unpredictable jokester, a constant source of entertainment and surprises.
    • 2011, Diane Lierow, Bernie Lierow, Kay West, Dani's Story: A Journey from Neglect to Love, page 81:
      She was gregarious, opinionated, and in charge, the kind of person you'd describe as a real pistol, and I was immediately drawn to her.
    • February 2012, Thomas Pugsley, Denial (episode) in Young Justice (TV series):
      KENT NELSON —Until my wife Inza convinced me there was more to life. Ah, she was a real pistol, that Inza.
    • 2012, Jimmy Correa, How My Prank Stories in ‘You Tube’ Made Me an Overnight Sensation, iUniverse, page 102:
      She features so many dance tunes and is a pistol with her sharp and witty remarks.
  4. (Southern US) A small boy who is bright, alert and very active.
  5. (American football) An offensive formation in which the quarterback receives the snap at a distance behind the center, but closer than in a shotgun formation, with a running back lined up behind him.

Usage notesEdit

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.

Derived termsEdit

TranslationsEdit

jokester — see jokester
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

VerbEdit

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.

See alsoEdit

Further readingEdit

AnagramsEdit

CebuanoEdit

Alternative formsEdit

EtymologyEdit

A minced oath of pisti.

PronunciationEdit

  • Hyphenation: pis‧tol

InterjectionEdit

pistol

  1. expressing anger, surprise, excitement, etc.

DanishEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Middle French pistole or from German Pistole, either from Italian pistola or from Czech píšťala (“whistle”), from Proto-Slavic *piščalь, from *piskati, *piščati (“to squeak, whistle”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *pīṣk-.

PronunciationEdit

NounEdit

pistol c (singular definite pistolen, plural indefinite pistoler)

  1. handgun, pistol

InflectionEdit

Declension of pistol
common
gender 		Singular Plural
indefinite definite indefinite definite
nominative pistol pistolen pistoler pistolerne
genitive pistols pistolens pistolers pistolernes

See alsoEdit

IndonesianEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Malay pistol, from Dutch pistool. Ultimately from Czech píšťala (“whistle”), from Proto-Slavic *piščalь, from *piskati, *piščati (“to squeak, whistle”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *pīṣk-.

NounEdit

pistol (plural, first-person possessive pistolku, second-person possessive pistolmu, third-person possessive pistolnya)

  1. a pistol (gun)

MalayEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Dutch pistool. Ultimately from Czech píšťala (“whistle”), from Proto-Slavic *piščalь, from *piskati, *piščati (“to squeak, whistle”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *pīṣk-.

NounEdit

pistol (plural pistol-pistol, informal 1st possessive pistolku, impolite 2nd possessive pistolmu, 3rd possessive pistolnya)

  1. a pistol (gun, handheld short firearm weapon)

Further readingEdit

Norwegian BokmålEdit

 
Norwegian Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia no

EtymologyEdit

From Czech píšťala (“whistle, because of the shape”), via German Pistole

NounEdit

pistol m (definite singular pistolen, indefinite plural pistoler, definite plural pistolene)

  1. a pistol (firearm)
    • 2012, Tatiana de Rosnay, Kirsti Overgaard, transl., Saras nøkkel [Sarah's Key]‎[1]:
      Langs veggene sto politimenn med dystre ansikter, truende, med hendene på pistolene sine. Along the walls policemen stood menacingly with sombre faces, and with hands on their pistols.
      (please add an English translation of this quote)

ReferencesEdit

Norwegian NynorskEdit

 
Norwegian Nynorsk Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia nn

EtymologyEdit

From Czech píšťala (“whistle”), via German Pistole

NounEdit

pistol m (definite singular pistolen, indefinite plural pistolar, definite plural pistolane)

  1. a pistol (firearm)

ReferencesEdit

RomanianEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Greek πιστόλι (pistóli)

NounEdit

pistol n (plural pistoale)

  1. pistol

DeclensionEdit

Declension of pistol
singular plural
indefinite articulation definite articulation indefinite articulation definite articulation
nominative/accusative (un) pistol pistolul (niște) pistoale pistoalele
genitive/dative (unui) pistol pistolului (unor) pistoale pistoalelor
vocative pistolule pistoalelor

SwedishEdit

EtymologyEdit

Ultimately from Czech píšťala (“whistle”), from Proto-Slavic *piščalь, from *piskati, *piščati (“to squeak, whistle”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *pīṣk-.

PronunciationEdit

NounEdit

pistol c

  1. a pistol (gun)

DeclensionEdit

Declension of pistol 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative pistol pistolen pistoler pistolerna
Genitive pistols pistolens pistolers pistolernas

Related termsEdit

Related terms →

See alsoEdit

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