noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈhɒlstə(ɹ)/
/ˈhoʊlstə(ɹ)/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɒlstə(ɹ)
rhymes with -əʊlstə(ɹ)
CMU ARPABET:HH OW1 L S T ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A case for carrying a tool, particularly a gun, safely and accessibly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A belt with loops or slots for carrying small tools or other equipment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To put something in a holster.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
a sheath (usually leather) for carrying a handgun
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: sheath
Narrower terms: shoulder holster
5
noun
Meaning 5
a belt with loops or slots for carrying small hand tools
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: belt
History
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.
Across languages
Translations
43 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
قِرابُ الْمُسَدََّّسِ
(qirābu l-musadaaaasi)
— case for carrying a gun
Belarusian:
кабура́
(kaburá)
— case for carrying a gun
Belarusian:
по́хва
(póxva)
— case for carrying a gun
Bulgarian:
кобур
(kobur)
— case for carrying a gun
Chinese Mandarin:
皮套
(pítào)
— case for carrying a gun
Chinese Mandarin:
皮囊
(pínáng)
— case for carrying a gun
Czech:
pouzdro
— case for carrying a gun
Danish:
hylster
— case for carrying a gun
Dutch:
holster
— case for carrying a gun
Finnish:
kotelo
— case for carrying a gun
French:
holster
— case for carrying a gun
French:
étui
— case for carrying a gun
Georgian:
ბუდე
(bude)
— case for carrying a gun
German:
Holster
— case for carrying a gun
German:
Halfter
— case for carrying a gun
German:
Pistolentasche
— case for carrying a gun
Hungarian:
pisztolytáska
— case for carrying a gun
Italian:
fondina
— case for carrying a gun
Japanese:
ホルスター
(horusutā)
— case for carrying a gun
Korean:
홀스터
(holseuteo)
— case for carrying a gun
Norwegian Bokmål:
hylster
— case for carrying a gun
Norwegian Nynorsk:
hylster
— case for carrying a gun
Persian:
جلد هفت تیر
— case for carrying a gun
Polish:
kabura
— case for carrying a gun
Portuguese:
coldre
— case for carrying a gun
Russian:
кобура́
(koburá)
— case for carrying a gun
Slovak:
puzdro
— case for carrying a gun
Slovene:
kubura
— case for carrying a gun
Slovene:
tok
— case for carrying a gun
Spanish:
pistolera
— case for carrying a gun
Swedish:
hölster
— case for carrying a gun
Tagalog:
bayna
— case for carrying a gun
Turkish:
kubur
— case for carrying a gun
Turkish:
tabanca kılıfı
— case for carrying a gun
Ukrainian:
кобура́
(koburá)
— case for carrying a gun
Finnish:
työkaluvyö
— belt with loops or slots
Italian:
cintura per attrezzi
— belt with loops or slots
