pistol

Where does the word "pistol" come from? It comes from Czech pišťala, passing through German and French before entering English (1500s-1600s).

Pistol’s story begins in Czech: pišťala meant “a whistle, pipe; a firearm.” Meaning "a whistle" or "pipe", later a type of firearm. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in German as Pistole. Adopted for the small handheld firearm. From there it passed into French as pistolet by 1500s. Carried the weapon's name into French military use. It reached English by 1500s-1600s as pistol. From Czech 'píšťala', pipe or whistle, a Hussite hand-cannon. Today, pistol means a small firearm designed to be held and fired with one hand.

1. Stage 1 · Czech · medieval pišťala "a whistle, pipe; a firearm", meaning "a whistle" or "pipe", later a type of firearm.
2. Stage 2 · German · 1500s Pistole "a small handheld firearm", adopted for the small handheld firearm.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1500s pistolet "a small firearm", carried the weapon's name into French military use.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s-1600s pistol "a small handheld firearm", from Czech 'píšťala', pipe or whistle, a Hussite hand-cannon.