Pistol
mid 16th century: from obsolete French pistole, from German Pistole, from Czech pišt'ala, of which the original meaning was ‘whistle’, hence ‘a firearm’ by the resemblance in shape.
wiktionary
Probably from Middle French pistole, which probably via Middle High German forms like pischulle from Czech píšťala(“firearm”, literally “tube, pipe”), [1] from Proto-Slavic *piščalь, from *piskati, *piščati(“to squeak, whistle”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *pīṣk-.
Alternatively, from Middle English pistolet, from Middle French pistolet(“small firearm or small dagger”), from or related to Italian pistolese(“short dagger”), from Italian Pistoia(“a Tuscan town noted for its gunsmithing”). [1]
etymonline
pistol (n.)
"small firearm with a curved handle, intended to be held in one hand when aimed and fired," 1570s, from French pistole "short firearm" (1566), a word of uncertain origin, sometimes said to be from German Pistole, from Czech pis'tala "firearm," literally "tube, pipe," from pisteti "to whistle," a word of imitative origin, related to Russian pischal "shepherd's pipe."
But the earlier English form pistolet (1550) is said to be from French pistolet "a small firearm," also "a small dagger," which is said to be connected with Italian pistolese, in reference to Pistoia, the town in Tuscany noted for gunsmithing.
Pistol-whip (v.) "strike (someone) with the butt of a pistol is recorded by 1942. Pistol-grip "handle shaped like the butt of a pistol" is by 1874.
