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Pistol vs Revolver - What's the difference?

pistol | revolver |

As nouns the difference between pistol and revolver

is that pistol is a handgun, typically with a chamber integrated in the barrel, a semi-automatic action and a box magazine while revolver is a handgun with a revolving chamber enabling several shots to be fired without reloading.

As a verb pistol

is to shoot (at) a target with a pistol.

pistol

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A handgun, (typically) with a chamber integrated in the barrel, a semi-automatic action and a box magazine.
  • The mechanical component of a fuse in a bomb or torpedo responsible for firing the detonator.
  • A creative and unpredictable jokester, a constant source of entertainment and surprises.
  • *
  • * February 2012 , Thomas Pugsley, Denial (episode) in :
    • KENT NELSON —Until my wife Inza convinced me there was more to life. Ah, she was a real pistol , that Inza.
  • * 2012 , Jimmy Correa, How My Prank Stories in ‘You Tube’ Made Me an Overnight Sensation , iUniverse, page 102:
    • She features so many dance tunes and is a pistol with her sharp an witty remarks.
  • (Southern US) A small boy who is bright, alert and very active.
  • (American football) A play formation in which the quarterback is a few feet behind the center when the ball is snapped, but closer than in a shotgun formation, with a running back a few feet behind him.
  • * (projectlink)

    • Usage notes

    Shooters normally differentiate between a pistol and a revolver, which is named after its rotating chamber; however, in common usage, the word (term) is also imprecisely used to refer to any type of handgun.

    Derived terms

    * machine pistol * muff pistol * pistol carbine * pistoleer * pistol grip * pistol pipe * pistol-whip * starting pistol * Very pistol

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shoot (at) a target with a pistol.

    • See also

    * derringer * pistole * gat * rod

    Anagrams

    * ----

    revolver

    English

    (wikipedia revolver)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A handgun with a revolving chamber enabling several shots to be fired without reloading.
  • Agent noun of revolve; something that revolves.

    • Synonyms

    * wheelgun

    Hyponyms

    * six-gun * six-shooter