Chapter Piqueer to Pit of P by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

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.

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.

Pistolade
(Pis"to*lade`) n. [F.] A pistol shot.

Pistole
(Pis*tole") n. [F., probably a name given in jest in France to a Spanish coin. Cf. Pistol.] 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.

Pistoleer
(Pis`to*leer") n. [Cf. F. pistolier.] One who uses a pistol. [R.] Carlyle.

Pistolet
(Pis"to*let`) n. [F., a dim. of pistole.] A small pistol. Donne. Beau. & Fl.

Piston
(Pis"ton) n. [F. piston; cf. It. pistone piston, also pestone a large pestle; all fr. L. pinsere, pistum, to pound, to stamp. See Pestle, Pistil.] (Mach.) A sliding piece which either is moved by, or moves against, fluid pressure. It usually consists of a short cylinder fitting within a cylindrical vessel along which it moves, back and forth. It is used in steam engines to receive motion from the steam, and in pumps to transmit motion to a fluid; also for other purposes.

Piston head (Steam Eng.), that part of a piston which is made fast to the piston rod. — Piston rod, a rod by which a piston is moved, or by which it communicates motion. — Piston valve (Steam Eng.), a slide valve, consisting of a piston, or connected pistons, working in a cylindrical case which is provided with ports that are traversed by the valve.

Pit
(Pit) n. [OE. pit, put, AS. pytt a pit, hole, L. puteus a well, pit.]

1. A large cavity or hole in the ground, either natural or artificial; a cavity in the surface of a body; an indentation; specifically: (a) The shaft of a coal mine; a coal pit. (b) A large hole in the ground from which material is dug or quarried; as, a stone pit; a gravel pit; or in which material is made by burning; as, a lime pit; a charcoal pit. (c) A vat sunk in the ground; as, a tan pit.

Tumble me into some loathsome pit.

Shak.

2. Any abyss; especially, the grave, or hades.

Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained.

Milton.

He keepth back his soul from the pit.

Job xxxiii. 18.

3. A covered deep hole for entrapping wild beasts; a pitfall; hence, a trap; a snare. Also used figuratively.

The anointed of the Lord was taken in their pits.

Lam. iv. 20.

4. A depression or hollow in the surface of the human body; as: (a) The hollow place under the shoulder or arm; the axilla, or armpit. (b) See Pit of the stomach (c) The indentation or mark left by a pustule, as in smallpox.

5. Formerly, that part of a theater, on the floor of the house, below the level of the stage and behind the orchestra; now, in England, commonly the part behind the stalls; in the United States, the parquet; also, the occupants of such a part of a theater.