Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “pistol” come from?

Pistol comes from Middle French pistole, a term of unknown ultimate origin referring to a small firearm.

pistol (English): A handgun, with a chamber integrated in the...

Definitions

  1. A handgun, with a chamber integrated in the...

Ancestry of “pistol”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchpistolepistol
2Middle High Germanpitschal—
3Czechpíšťalawhistle
4Old Czechpíščala—
5Proto-Slavicpiščalьpipe; shinbone
6Proto-Slavicpiskatito squeak, to whistle
7Proto-Balto-Slavicpīṣk-—

Words derived from “pistol”

  • pistolcraft
  • muff pistol
  • ピストル
Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic pīṣk- →