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
Investigators found 14 pistols, five rifles and a rocket launcher in those black and yellow crates.
—
Keith Sharon, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
The defense argued that Relli initiated the altercation and Rocky's behavior was in self-defense, adding that the rapper's pistol was taken from a music video set and only fired blanks.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025
During a search of the vehicle, police found an unsecured pistol in a diaper bag within reach of the children, records show.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2025
Any weapon can be equipped at any time regardless of class, from gunpowder pistols and rifles to spears and magic tomes.
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pistol
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Keith Sharon, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
The defense argued that Relli initiated the altercation and Rocky's behavior was in self-defense, adding that the rapper's pistol was taken from a music video set and only fired blanks.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025
During a search of the vehicle, police found an unsecured pistol in a diaper bag within reach of the children, records show.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2025
Any weapon can be equipped at any time regardless of class, from gunpowder pistols and rifles to spears and magic tomes.
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pistol
Cite this Entry
“Pistol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pistol. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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"
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