Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pistle

/ˈpɪs(ə)l/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: pis-tle
IPA: /ˈpɪs(ə)l/

8

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Synonym of epistle.

Archaic; Obsolete

noun

A story conveyed verbally.

Obsolete

verb

To write about (someone or something) in, or in the form of, a letter.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"when they were departed / they cam to Antioche and gaddred the multitude togedder and delivered the piſtle."

Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English pistel, pistle (“letter; epistle”) [and other forms], from Old English pistol (“letter, epistle”), an aphetic form of epistol, epistola, from Latin epistola (“letter, epistle; literary work in letter form”): see further at epistle. The verb is derived from the noun. Cognates Scots pistil, pistle

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: pistel, pistol, epistola

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈpɪs(ə)l/
British English: /ˈpɪsl̩/

Usage

Inflected Forms

pistles (plural) pistles (present, singular) pistling (participle, present) pistled (participle, past) pistled (past)

Synonyms

epistle

Rhymes With

missile whistle final whistle thistle epistle bristle abyssal gristle bissel mistle dogwhistle twistle

Questions

How do you pronounce pistle?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpɪs(ə)l/.
What does pistle mean?: Synonym of epistle.
Where does pistle come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce pistle

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pistle”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈpɪs(ə)l/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “pistle”.
Repeat and practice — Say “pistle” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.