twenty-two pistol

4.1

A small gun that fires light bullets and does not push back much for target practice

noun
/ˈtwɛnti tuː ˈpɪstəl/

: pistola .22

The twenty-two pistol is often recommended for beginner shooters because of its light recoil.

Examples

He took his twenty-two pistol to the shooting range for some target practice.
She inherited her grandfather's old twenty-two pistol as part of his collection.
He bought a twenty-two pistol for target practice.
The twenty-two pistols are popular among beginners.
He took his twenty-two pistol to the shooting range for some target practice.
The twenty-two pistol is often recommended for beginner shooters because of its light recoil.
She inherited her grandfather's old twenty-two pistol as part of his collection.

Synonyms

pistol

vstwenty-two pistol

268 2.1

A small gun you hold and fire with one hand

is the one handed firearm that specifically uses small 5.6 mm ammo and has low recoil

handgun

vstwenty-two pistol

187 4.6

A small gun that you hold and fire with one hand

is a specific example of this type using small 5.6 mm ammo with low recoil

twenty-two

vstwenty-two pistol

1 7.5

A small pistol or rifle that uses .22 bullets

is the specific short firearm using that ammo with low recoil for practice

.22

vstwenty-two pistol

Specialized

7.2

A small pistol or rifle that uses very small bullets

is the particular short firearm of that type with low recoil for training

How Powerful

machine pistol

NSFW

3 7.8

pistol

268 2.1

twenty-two pistol

4.1

air gun

1 3.1

Surface Forms

twenty-two pistol singular

twenty-two pistols plural

Morphology

twenty-two + pistol

The phrase is compositionally number + noun (twenty-two + pistol), so a learner can infer it refers to a pistol associated with the number 22 (e.g., a .22 model or caliber). However, mapping 'twenty-two' to the technical notion of .22-caliber ammunition and the consequences (low recoil, target/training use) requires specific firearms knowledge, so the meaning is only partially predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Twenty-two pistol comes from the size of the bullet: '.22' means a very small bullet, so twenty-two names that small size and pistol is the small gun. That's why a twenty-two pistol means a small, light gun people often use for 'target shooting' and 'beginner training'.