pistolyoudaoicibaDictYouDict[pistol 词源字典]
pistol: [16] Pistol is one of a very small and select group of words contributed to English by Czech (others are howitzer and robot). It comes via German pistole from Czech pišt’ala, which literally means ‘pipe’ (it is related to Russian pischal ‘shepherd’s pipe’).
[pistol etymology, pistol origin, 英语词源]
pistol (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
"small hand-held firearm," 1570s, from Middle French pistole "short firearm" (1566), of uncertain origin, sometimes said to be from German Pistole, from Czech pis'tala "firearm," literally "tube, pipe," from pisteti "to whistle," of imitative origin, related to Russian pischal "shepherd's pipe."

But earlier English form pistolet (1550) is said to be from Middle French pistolet "a small firearm," also "a small dagger," which may be the literal sense; though some connect this word with Italian pistolese, in reference to Pistoia, town in Tuscany noted for gunsmithing. Pistol-whip (v.) is first recorded 1942.