horse-pistol
Definition
Noun: A large, historically significant firearm. Specifically, a "horse-pistol" is a large pistol, typically carried in a holster, that was formerly used by horsemen or cavalry soldiers. Its size and power were designed to be manageable from horseback.
Usage and Examples
Noun: * The museum displayed a cavalry officer's uniform alongside his polished horse-pistol. * In the 18th century, a pair of horse-pistols was standard equipment for many officers on campaign.
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used in a historical or antiquarian context to describe weaponry from the 17th to 19th centuries.
- It can be used metaphorically to describe something outdated but once powerful.
- His argument was a rhetorical horse-pistol—blunt, forceful, and from a bygone era.
Variants and Related Words
- Holster pistol: A more general term for any pistol designed to be carried in a holster.
- Dragoon pistol: A specific type of large military pistol, closely related to and sometimes synonymous with a horse-pistol.
- Cavalry pistol: A functional descriptor for pistols used by horse-mounted troops.
Synonyms
- Dragoon pistol
- Cavalry pistol
- Holster pistol (in historical contexts)
Antonyms
- Pocket pistol (a small, concealable pistol)
- Derringer (a very small, short-barreled pistol)
Related Phrases
- A brace of pistols: A historical phrase meaning a pair of pistols, often referring to horse-pistols carried by a rider.
- He armed himself with a brace of horse-pistols before the duel.
Noun
-
a large pistol (usually in a holster) formerly carried by horsemen
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