Kilo Lingo

le

masculine

/pis.tɔ.lɛ/

Line drawing of pistolet
Coloured illustration of pistolet
#1541 of 5,000 Core 5000

Translation

pistol

Word origin

The origin is disputed, though the word reached French in the sixteenth century as a name for a short firearm.

Origin
disputed

Other proposed origins

  • Most often traced to German Pistole, borrowed from Czech pistala ('pipe, whistle'), the name of a handgun used in the Hussite wars. (pistala)
  • Some accounts derive it instead from Italian pistolese, a weapon named after the Tuscan city of Pistoia. (pistolese)

Grammar

Gendermasculine
Pluralpistolets

Examples

L' étui.

The officer put his pistol back in its holster.

.

The pistol was lying on the table.

' .

He has never held a pistol in his life.

.

The pistol was found in the river.

expose -huitième .

The museum displays eighteenth-century pistols.

Where this fits

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French · Free printables

pistolet: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the French word "pistolet" (pistol): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is part of lesson 31.