pistol

/'pistl/

Thân thiện

A police officer holsters a pistol on their duty belt.

Definition

Noun 1. A small firearm designed to be held and operated with one hand: A pistol is a type of gun that is compact, typically has a short barrel, and is intended to be aimed and fired using a single hand.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The officer drew her pistol from its holster.
  • He keeps a loaded pistol in his bedside drawer for protection.
  • In the 19th century, duels were often fought with pistols.

Advanced Usage

• "To hold a pistol to someone's head": To put someone under extreme pressure or coercion.
  • The negotiators felt the company was holding a pistol to their heads with the tight deadline.

Variants and Related Words

• Derived Form: Pistol-whip (verb): To hit someone with the barrel or grip of a pistol.
  • The villain threatened to pistol-whip the informant.

Synonyms

• Handgun: A more general term for a firearm held in one hand.
• Revolver: A type of pistol with a revolving cylinder holding multiple bullets.
• Automatic pistol / Semi-automatic pistol: Types of pistols that automatically reload the next cartridge after firing.

Idioms and Phrases

• "Smoking gun": While not containing the word "pistol," this idiom is closely related in context, meaning conclusive evidence of a crime or wrongdoing.
  • The email was the smoking gun that proved his involvement.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a firearm that is held and fired with one hand

Từ đồng nghĩa

• handgun
• side arm
• shooting iron