To me, a pistol is a semi auto, a revolver is just that, a revolver, they are both handguns, as well as the single shots that house rifle chamberings, but then where do they fall, are they pistols, they are definately not revolvers, or shall we just call them single shot pistols, who knows, but when someone says "pistol" I think 1911, when someone says "revolver" I think Ruger Single Action 44.