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Glite Dictionary
pistoleer

pistoleer

1 9.9
A person who uses a small gun, often a soldier
  • noun
  • /ˌpɪstəˈlɪr/
  • Archaic
translation icon : pistolero
  • In the old western film, the pistoleer faced off against his rival in a tense showdown at high noon.

Examples

  • Not that I'm a pistoleer or a knife smith like that greaser Chavez-Chavez, over there.

    Young Guns (1988)

  • All I was thinking was that it would be just the armature for a pistoleer.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Hickok was a true prince of pistoleers, was he not?

    Hidalgo (2004)

  • The deadliest gunslingin' pistoleer in the West is going blind, and in a moment of oversight, his older brother, Death, is about to smack him when his back's turned....

    Fiction book (1997)

  • The legendary pistoleer could draw his weapon faster than anyone else in the town, earning him great respect.

  • During the battle, the skilled pistoleer expertly aimed his gun, taking down enemy soldiers one by one.

Synonyms

shooter
vspistoleer
520 3.6

A person who fires a gun, sometimes paid to kill others

is a soldier armed with a pistol rather than any weapon user
gunman
vspistoleer
183 4.8

A person who uses a gun to hurt or kill others

is a soldier armed with a pistol rather than a criminal attacker
gunner
vspistoleer
46 6.1

A person who aims and fires weapons, often in the military or in contests

is a soldier armed with a pistol rather than someone who mainly operates guns
marksman
vspistoleer
18 5.9

A person who shoots very accurately with a gun

is a soldier armed with a pistol rather than an accuracy specialist
gunslinger
vspistoleer
16 8.7

A person in the Old West who uses guns very well, often a sheriff or outlaw

is a soldier armed with a pistol rather than an Old West gun user
gunfighter
vspistoleer
  • US
12 6.3

A person who fights with guns, often in the Old West

is a soldier armed with a pistol rather than a duelist
shootist
vspistoleer
  • Archaic
1 8.2

A person who is very good at using guns and hitting targets

is a soldier armed with a pistol rather than a general firearm expert
skilled gunner
vspistoleer
6.5

A person who shoots very well, often in the army or competitions

is a soldier armed with a pistol rather than a broad weapons specialist

Surface Forms

pistoleer singular
pistoleers plural

Morphology

pistoleer = pistol (semi-transparent) = pistol + eer

The suffix '-eer' indicates a person associated with or involved in a particular activity, but the specific meaning related to a soldier or armed person may not be immediately obvious.

Etymology

Pistoleer is built from pistol, 'a small gun', and the ending -eer, 'a person', like musketeer. So a pistoleer is literally a person 'with a pistol', which is why it means a soldier or fighter armed with a pistol.