1
: a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel
broadly
: handgun
2
: a notably sharp, spirited, or energetic person
pistol
transitive verb
Examples of pistol in a Sentence
a real pistol, she dances rings around the other performers
Recent Examples on the Web
Former Indiana State Police Firearm Examiner Melissa Oberg testified the .40 caliber round found between the bodies matched a pistol seized from Allen’s home, according to CNN affiliate WTHR.
—
Zoe Sottile, CNN, 28 Oct. 2024
Turner was also convicted of four counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license.
—Emily Palmer, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024
After allegedly firing a pistol at them, Campbell ran to a nearby barber college and went inside.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024
Dearman wrestled a pistol away from Justin Reed as Reed tried to defend himself and Chelsea Reed.
—Abigail Brooks, NBC News, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pistol 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Zoe Sottile, CNN, 28 Oct. 2024
Turner was also convicted of four counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license.
—Emily Palmer, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024
After allegedly firing a pistol at them, Campbell ran to a nearby barber college and went inside.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024
Dearman wrestled a pistol away from Justin Reed as Reed tried to defend himself and Chelsea Reed.
—Abigail Brooks, NBC News, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pistol
Dictionary Entries Near pistol
Cite this Entry
“Pistol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pistol. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pistol
noun
pis·tol
ˈpis-tᵊl 
: a short firearm made to be aimed and fired with one hand
Etymology
from early French pistole "pistol," from German pistole (same meaning), derived from Czech píšt'ala, literally, "pipe, fife"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share