Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

holster en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈhoʊlstə(ɹ)/
  • /ˈhɒlstə(ɹ)/

Etymology

From Dutch holster (“pistol-case, holster”), from Middle Low German holster, from Old Saxon *holster, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *hulastrą, *hulistrą (“hull, case, covering”). Cognate with Old English heolstor (“a covering, veil, hiding-place”), Danish hylster (“pistol case, envelope”), Icelandic hulstur (“sheath”), Gothic 𐌷𐌿𐌻𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍂 (hulistr, “covering”). Compare German Halfter (“pistol case”). Related to hull, hele.

Meanings

  1. A case for carrying a tool, particularly a gun, safely and accessibly.
    • Goring, like himself, had sprang forwards, first snatching a pistol from his holsters, and discharging it at him who seemed to be the chief of the party,—the man reeled and fell; but his fall was instantly avenged. 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter V, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 35:
    • Marion Wheeler took the seat, brushing the hem of her suit jacket aside to reveal a concealed holster. "You do know I carry a gun?" 2023 October 22, HarryBlank, “Waiting to Happen”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 23 May 2024:
  2. A belt with loops or slots for carrying small tools or other equipment.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
holsters Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

cock holster

Translations (43)

sl kubura (case for carrying a gun) · tl bayna (case for carrying a gun) · da hylster (case for carrying a gun) · fi kotelo (case for carrying a gun) · it fondina (case for carrying a gun) · de Holster (case for carrying a gun) · fr holster (case for carrying a gun) · pl kabura (case for carrying a gun) · fi työkaluvyö (belt with loops or slots) · es tiracol (belt with loops or slots) · es bridecú (belt with loops or slots) · it cintura per attrezzi (belt with loops or slots) · ru кобура́ (case for carrying a gun) · cmn 皮囊 (case for carrying a gun) · tr kubur (case for carrying a gun) · fr étui (case for carrying a gun) · sl tok (case for carrying a gun) · ja ホルスター (case for carrying a gun) · nb hylster (case for carrying a gun) · bg кобур (case for carrying a gun) · de Pistolentasche (case for carrying a gun) · es tiracuello (belt with loops or slots) · nl holster (case for carrying a gun) · sv hölster (case for carrying a gun) · es briricú (belt with loops or slots) · nn hylster (case for carrying a gun) · pt coldre (case for carrying a gun) · de Halfter (case for carrying a gun) · fa جلد هفت تیر (case for carrying a gun) · cmn 皮套 (case for carrying a gun) · be кабура́ (case for carrying a gun) · sk puzdro (case for carrying a gun) · es tahalí (belt with loops or slots) · uk кобура́ (case for carrying a gun) · ka ბუდე (case for carrying a gun) · tr tabanca kılıfı (case for carrying a gun) · es talabarte (belt with loops or slots) · ar قِرابُ الْمُسَدََّّسِ (case for carrying a gun) · ko 홀스터 (case for carrying a gun) · hu pisztolytáska (case for carrying a gun) · be по́хва (case for carrying a gun) · cs pouzdro (case for carrying a gun) · es pistolera (case for carrying a gun)

holster en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈhoʊlstə(ɹ)/
  • /ˈhɒlstə(ɹ)/

Etymology

From Dutch holster (“pistol-case, holster”), from Middle Low German holster, from Old Saxon *holster, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *hulastrą, *hulistrą (“hull, case, covering”). Cognate with Old English heolstor (“a covering, veil, hiding-place”), Danish hylster (“pistol case, envelope”), Icelandic hulstur (“sheath”), Gothic 𐌷𐌿𐌻𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍂 (hulistr, “covering”). Compare German Halfter (“pistol case”). Related to hull, hele.

Meanings

  1. To put something in a holster.
    • Then she sorted herself out, making sure her pickaxe and shovel were properly holstered to her. 2025, Angel Luis Colón, Minecraft: House of Horrors, page 68:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
holsters Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
holstering Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
holstered Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
holstered Tense=Past lexicographic

Deriveds

holsterable · reholster · unholster