pistol
n. countablen. a small gun that you can hold and fire with one hand. It is designed for short distances and is easy to carry.
n. a small firearm designed to be held and fired with a single hand. Typically distinguished from a revolver by its integrated chamber and barrel assembly.
The officer carried a pistol in a holster on his belt.
During the competition, the athlete aimed the pistol carefully at the target twenty meters away.
Historical accounts suggest that the early flintlock pistol was notoriously unreliable in damp weather, often failing to ignite the powder during critical moments of defense.
Probably from Middle French pistole, or via Middle English pistolet, from Middle French pistolet (“small firearm or small dagger”). The origin is unclear. If via German to Romance probably from Middle High German forms like pischulle from Czech píšťala (“firearm”, literally “tube, pipe”), from Proto-Slavic piščalь, from piskati, piščati (“to squeak, whistle”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic pīṣk-. Alternatively, if from Romance to German, from or related to Italian pistolese (“short dagger”), from Italian Pistoia (“a Tuscan town noted for its gunsmithing”).
Commonly used as a synonym for 'handgun' in general contexts.