I. ˈpist ə l noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle French pistole, from German, from Middle High German dialect (Silesia) pischulle, pischol, pischczal, from Czech pištal, literally, pipe; akin to Russian pischal shawm, shepherd's pipes, harquebus, pishchat' to play the pipes, probably all of imitative origin
1. : a short firearm intended to be aimed and fired with one hand : revolver — see automatic pistol
2. : a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel — distinguished from revolver ; see single-shot pistol
II. transitive verb
( pistoled or pistolled ; pistoled or pistolled ; pistoling or pistolling ; pistols )
: to shoot with a pistol