Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A gold coin equal to two escudos, formerly used in Spain.
- n. Any of several gold coins used in various European countries until the late 19th century.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A gold coin of Spain, worth at the beginning of the nineteenth century nearly $4 United States money. The name was also applied to the French louis d'or of gold issned by Louis XIII. in 1640, and to gold coins of various European countries, worth either more or less than the Spanish pistole. About 1835, the Swiss pistole was worth nearly $4.75; the Italian, from $3.45 to $5.55; the German, about $4.
Wiktionary
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. The name of certain gold coins of various values formerly coined in some countries of Europe. In Spain it was equivalent to a quarter doubloon, or about $3.90, and in Germany and Italy nearly the same. There was an old Italian pistole worth about $5.40.
Etymologies
- French, back-formation from pistolet, diminutive of pistole, pistol; see pistol. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“The rest I call by caliber; my .270, my "Whelen", and the "00-6", and the Black Shadow-. 44 Mag ... the 9mm pistole is "Petro" (Beretta 92FS) and the GP 100 is the "Ruger magnum".”
“[6] A pistole was a Spanish gold coin in use in Carter's time.”
Letter from Robert Carter to Benjamin Grayson, July 27, 1731
“[25] A pistole was a Spanish gold coin in use in Carter's time.”
“( "Carter Papers: An Inventory ....") [5] A pistole was a Spanish gold coin.”
“[2] A pistole was a Spanish gold coin in use in Carter's time.”
“Book XV, 53.) [5] A pistole was a Spanish gold coin in use in Carter's time.”
“The pistole is a Spanish gold coin worth about four dollars; formerly the French pistole was worth in France ten _livres_ -- about ten francs -- they were struck in Franche-Comté.] we should have no need now to think of and try to find out what means we must employ in compassing our wishes; we might, by purchasing this slave quickly, prevent your rival from forestalling and thwarting you.”
“They were still enraged over the pistole dispute and irked that the lieutenant governor had already launched a campaign.”
“The assembly had been in session from November 1 to December 19, most of the time wrangling over the pistole fee.”
“Dinwiddie was annoyed that the Burgesses had voted to send a delegation to London to complain about the pistole fee dispute.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘pistole’.
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Moby-Dick
Interesting words and usages.
hypo, spile, hunks, grapnel, squitchy, skrimshander, monkey jacket, direful, grego, wrapall, dreadnaught, bosky and 158 more...
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My Modern Job in the Past
Words I come across at work.
Now stripped of most military terms, which have found a new home on the list Historical Military Terms of Interest. See also (and add to!) hilarious misspe...chaise-marine, delft, delftware, quince, tympan, cresset, navvy, venn diagram, poop deck, apothecary, heliotrope, millinery and 294 more...
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scrabble
za, picacho, brosy, alba, evite, ancress, pyrexia, refugia, statice, diseuse, zori, vespine and 7 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for pistole.
yarb Citation on doubloon. Jul 29, 2008
chained_bear A type of ancient (Spanish, I think) coin of small denomination. Usage note on mohur. Mar 16, 2008