The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Pistol \Pis"tol\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pistoled; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Pistoling.] [Cf. F. pistoler.]
   To shoot with a pistol. "To pistol a poacher." --Sydney
   Smith.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Pistol \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.
   [1913 Webster]

   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.
       [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

pistol
    n 1: a firearm that is held and fired with one hand [syn:
         pistol, handgun, side arm, shooting iron]

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (19 January 2023):

pistol

   [IBM] A tool that makes it all too easy for you to shoot
   yourself in the foot.  "Unix "rm *" makes such a nice pistol!"

   [Jargon File]


The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):

pistol
 n.

    [IBM] A tool that makes it all too easy for you to shoot yourself in the
    foot. “Unix rm * makes such a nice pistol!”