Where does “pistolman” come from?
pistolman (English) comes from English pistol, from Middle French pistole, from Middle High German pitschal, from Czech píšťala, from Old Czech píščala, from Proto-Slavic piščalь, from Proto-Slavic piskati, from Proto-Balto-Slavic pīṣk-.
pistolman (English): A person armed with a pistol; a person skilled in the use of a pistol
Definitions
- A person armed with a pistol; a person skilled in the use of a pistol
Ancestry of “pistolman”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | pistol | A handgun, with a chamber integrated in the... |
| 2 | Middle French | pistole | pistol |
| 3 | Middle High German | pitschal | — |
| 4 | Czech | píšťala | whistle |
| 5 | Old Czech | píščala | whistle device used to make a whistling sound |
| 6 | Proto-Slavic | piščalь | pipe; shinbone |
| 7 | Proto-Slavic | piskati | to squeak, to whistle |
| 8 | Proto-Balto-Slavic | pīṣk- | — |