ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Pistol

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈpɪstəl/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Pistol is a noun meaning (loosely) A handgun.

Meaning

(loosely) A handgun.

More Meanings

  1. The mechanical component of a fuse in a bomb or torpedo responsible for firing the detonator.
  2. A lively, high-energy person.
  3. (transitive) To shoot (at) a target with a pistol.
  4. (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.

Example Sentences

She features so many dance tunes and is a pistol with her sharp and witty remarks.
KENT NELSON —Until my wife Inza convinced me there was more to life. Ah, she was a real pistol, that Inza.
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.

Word Forms

Synonyms for pistol

Depending on context, synonyms include handgun.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include handgun, roscoe, sidearm, gat, gunpoint, firearm.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.