Pistol

Pistol
This surname derives from the Old French "Pestel", itself a derivative of the Latin "Pestillum", translating as "to crush or grind". The surname is an English medieval metonymic for a user of a Pestel i.e., a herbalist or early chemist. The modern spellings of the name include Pistol and Pestell, whilst French variants are Peytell, Lepetre, Pestour etc.. The name development includes William Pistel witness at the Lancashire Assize Court of 1246, Symon Pystel, 1296, the Pipe Rolls of Sussex. John Postle (1594, London), Sara Pestell, baptised at St. Anns, Blackfriars in 1610 and Benjamin Pistol christened at St. Andrews, Holborn in 1705. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Pestel, which was dated 1221, in the "Shropshire Assize Court Roll", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Pistol — Pis tol, n. [F. pistole, pistolet, It. pistola; prob. from a form Pistola, for Pistoja, a town in Italy where pistols were first made. Cf. {Pistole}.] The smallest firearm used, intended to be fired from one hand, now of many patterns, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pistol — Pis tol, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pistoled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pistoling}.] [Cf. F. pistoler.] To shoot with a pistol. To pistol a poacher. Sydney Smith. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pistol — [pis′təl] n. [Fr pistole < Ger < Czech pišt al, pistol, orig., pipe, prob. < pisk, echoic word for a whistling sound] 1. a small firearm made to be held and fired with one hand 2. such a firearm in which the chamber is part of the barrel …   English World dictionary

  • pistol — (n.) small hand held firearm, c.1570, from M.Fr. pistole short firearm (1566), of uncertain origin, sometimes said to be from Ger. Pistole, from Czech pis tala firearm, lit. tube, pipe, from pisteti to whistle, of imitative origin, related to Rus …   Etymology dictionary

  • pistol — index gun Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • pistol — [n] revolver firearm, forty five*, gun, handgun, piece*, rod*, Saturday night special*, six shooter, thirty eight*; concept 500 …   New thesaurus

  • pistol — ► NOUN ▪ a small firearm designed to be held in one hand. ORIGIN French pistole, from Czech pi t ala, originally in the sense whistle , hence a firearm by the resemblance in shape …   English terms dictionary

  • pistol — PISTÓL1, pistoale, s.n. 1. Armă de foc de dimensiuni mici, mânuită cu o singură mână; revolver. ♢ Pistol mitralieră = armă automată uşoară, mai scurtă decât puşca mitralieră, cu bătaie mai mică şi mai uşor de mânuit; automat. Pistol de… …   Dicționar Român

  • pistol — n. 1) to cock; fire a pistol 2) to aim, point; level a pistol at 3) to load a pistol 4) to draw, whip out a pistol 5) an automatic; dueling; starting; toy; water pistol 6) the pistol fired, went off; jammed; misfired * * * [ pɪstl] dueling fire a …   Combinatory dictionary

  • pistol — n. & v. n. 1 a small hand held firearm. 2 anything of a similar shape. v.tr. (pistolled, pistolling; US pistoled, pistoling) shoot with a pistol. Phrases and idioms: hold a pistol to a person s head coerce a person by threats. pistol grip a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • pistol — pistollike, adj. /pis tl/, n., v., pistoled, pistoling or (esp. Brit.) pistolled, pistolling. n. 1. a short firearm intended to be held and fired with one hand. v.t. 2. to shoot with a pistol. [1560 70; < MF pistole < G, earlier pitschal,… …   Universalium

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