Arabic etymology of "pistol" - random note

[MatthewVanitas]

(disclaimer: I am very new to learning Arabic, and familiar only with the Iraqi dialect. Those wiser than I, feel free to contradict.)

An interesting thing was pointed out at some Arabic lessons I've been taking recently:

The Arabic word for "pistol" or "handgun" is "mussadas".

"mu" in this context indicates a shape or form, and "setta" the word for "six". Combined together in "mussadas", it means "shape of six, hexagon". The prof explained that this is because the six-round revolvers were popular in the Middle East at the time the word was coined. Same term is still used for all handguns, semi or revolver.

Just a tidbit for other linguistics geeks.

 

[zougou]

Interesting

What's the Arabic for, "Where are your weapons of mass destruction?"

 

[Erich]

I suppose it makes as much sense to call every handgun a "sixgun" as it does to name them after a city in Italy . . . .

I'm an etymology geek, too (I have three completely useless etymological dictionaries - fun to read on the can). Thanks for the info, Matthew!

 

[mete]

Language problems ? just stick your M9 in his face and say "you speak Beretta ?"

 

[BerettaNut92]

Kind of like 'clips' in English?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

In Viet Namese, sung sao, meaning "Six shoot."

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Mete: a workable method. But the problem with that is then you get a couple hundred Iraqis replying "You speak AK?"

Xenophobia cuts both ways.