Pistola

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small firearm designed to be held in one hand
2. a sidearm typically used for self-defense or in law enforcement
3. an abbreviated term often used colloquially to refer to any handgun or revolver

Etymology: The English "pistol" comes from the Italian "pistola," which in the 1500s meant a short-barreled firearm carried in the hand, and before that a small dagger or knife. The Italian word is older than the gun itself, and its exact origin is uncertain. The most common explanation links it to Pistoia, a town in Tuscany that was known for metalwork, and this link is often cited, though it remains unconfirmed. Several other theories have been proposed, including a connection to a Czech word for a whistle, but these are not supported by the evidence. The word reached English in the late 1500s, when it was borrowed directly from Italian and also from French, which had its own form "pistolet."

Synonyms: pistol, handgun, firearm, revolver, gun