pistoleern.
/ˌpɪstəˈlɪə/, U.S. /ˌpɪstəˈlɪ(ə)r/ rare before 19th cent.
A person who uses or is skilled with a pistol; spec. a soldier armed with a pistol.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > armed man > [noun] > one armed with or using firearm > one bearing or using handgun > pistol
pistolier?1563
pistoleter1570
pistoletier1587
pistoler1590
pistoleera1679
pistol man1784
sightsman1790
pistol shot1832
pistol-toter1887
pistol-packer1899
pistolero1932
a1679 R. Boyle Mr. Anthony (1690) iv. 36 These are Pistoleer-Musicians, and will be paid whenever they ask it.
1832 T. Carlyle in Fraser's Mag. May 407/1 Is the Chalk-Farm Pistoleer inspired with any reasonable Belief and Determination?
1855 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Philip II of Spain I. i. vii. 228 A corps of German pistoleers, of whom there was a body in the French service.
1883 American 7 116 The first step..must be the condign punishment of the Danville pistoleers.
1939 R. Campbell Flowering Rifle ii. 38 But have to strike and dawdle half the year Lest work offend the loafing pistoleer.
1988 Telegraph (Brisbane) 19 Jan. 5/1 (headline) Pistoleer priest in prison.
2001 G. Joseph Homegrown xii. 171 Jonah twirled the pistol around his finger like a Hollywood gunslinger and struck a pistoleer's pose in the mirror.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.a1679