# Roscoe

/ˈɹɑskoʊ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/roscoe
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

an old-fashioned slang word for a handgun, especially a pistol or revolver. You might see this in old detective movies or books about gangsters.

For teachers: a handgun, typically a pistol or revolver. Slang associated with early 20th-century American underworld and hardboiled detective fiction.

## Examples

- The detective reached for the roscoe hidden in his coat.
- In the classic noir film, the gangster pulled a roscoe from his pocket and demanded the money.
- The pulp novelist filled his pages with period-accurate slang, ensuring every private eye carried a roscoe and every dame had a secret to hide.

## Usage notes

- Archaic slang; primarily found in historical fiction or mid-century crime literature.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.