n. & v.
--n.
1. a small hand-held firearm.
2 anything of a similar shape.
--v.tr. (pistolled, pistolling; US pistoled, pistoling) shoot with a pistol.
Phrases and idioms:
hold a pistol to a person's head coerce a person by threats. pistol-grip a handle shaped like a pistol-butt. pistol-shot
1. the range of a pistol.
2 a shot fired from a pistol. pistol-whip (-whipped, -whipping) beat with a pistol.
Etymology: obs. F f. G Pistole f. Czech pist' al