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hol·ster

(hōlstər)

1. A case of leather or similar material into which a pistol fits snugly and which attaches to a belt, strap, or saddle so that it may be carried or transported.

2. A belt with loops or slots for carrying small tools or other equipment.

tr.v. hol·stered, hol·ster·ing, hol·sters

To put (a gun, for example) in a holster.

[Probably Dutch, alteration of holfter, hulfter, from Middle High German hulffter, case, sheath, quiver, covering, from hulft, from Old High German; see kel-¹ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

holstered adj.

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holster

leather tool holster

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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