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 bearing a great variety of names. See Illust. of Revolver.
Pistol carbine, a firearm with a removable but-piece, and thus capable of being used either as a pistol or a carbine. — Pistol pipe(Metal.), a pipe in which the blast for a furnace is heated, resembling a pistol in form. — Pistol shot. (a) The discharge of a pistol. (b) The distance to which a pistol can propel a ball.