What is a word that means to remove from a holster as opposed to putting something back in a holster? I’ve searched deholster and unholster, each with no results found.
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8What search engine are you using? Google.com gives "about 120,000" results for unholster. Granted, this isn't a very big number by Google standards, but it's enough that I wouldn't dismiss all of these uses as errors. Plenty of them look perfectly credible to me.– John YCommented Oct 31, 2011 at 19:53
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1I used dictionary.com I didn't use Google due to the potential for it to crawl a page where someone used an incorrect term for the lack of a more suitable word.– somehumeCommented Nov 1, 2011 at 15:16
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1A better starting point is OneLook.com, which provides links to entries in many reputable references. (It's significant that OneLook.com found no reputable references to cite for unholster.)– MetaEdCommented Jan 1, 2013 at 19:27
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5 Answers
You’re probably thinking of draw¹, which is certainly used with this meaning:
To pull out (as a gun from a holster, or a tooth).
For example, you might say “the gunslinger drew his pistol”.
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1Again, I don't like sounding like an ass, but "to draw a gun" has nothing to do with a holster. Have you ever seen anyone draw a shotgun from a holster? I doubt that. Being too technical I can safely claim that you're missing the point here. Commented Oct 31, 2011 at 17:30
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5I'm not sure I understand the objection. I can find many instances in COCA, for example, with gun or pistol and draw, and just a few where these are with unholster. I can't find instances where a shotgun is unholstered, and in a quick search, only a few examples of a shotgun, rifle, etc. with draw, which makes sense to me because these are carried differently. I think people tend to associate draw with removing a weapon - perhaps a canonical six-shooter - from a holster.– aedia λCommented Oct 31, 2011 at 18:03
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6@Rimmer, I certainly have seen a shotgun get drawn from a holster. (It is a much larger holster and commonly is mounted on a horse in order to be convenient to the rider.) So I have to disagree with your objection; drawing a gun is most definitely a 'remove-from-holster' action. (Also I have to agree with aedia that it's rare to say "he drew a shotgun" because shotguns aren't normally kept in a holster; but it's also possible that someone could "draw a shotgun" simply by removing it from its normal stored position on a gunrack, for example.)– HellionCommented Oct 31, 2011 at 18:48
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3While I agree with RiMMER that the most precise antonym of holster is unholster, I still think draw is a useful answer because it is a suitable antonym in most of the situations you'd find yourself using holster in the first place.– John YCommented Oct 31, 2011 at 20:23
Actually, it is unholster. I’m sure of it, because I’ve heard it a lot in those thousands of movies I’ve seen in my life.
Check the “unholster” Wiktionary entry¹ for further info.
answered Oct 31, 2011 at 17:17
I would use the term draw, as in “He drew his gun to confront the robbers, then holstered it after they ran away.”
A dictionary entry and example from TheFreeDictionary:
To take or pull out: drew a gun from beneath the counter; drew out a fat wallet.¹
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Actually, as you even quoted, "to draw a gun" means to take it from any place and prepare to fire. It's far from being an antonym to "holster." Commented Oct 31, 2011 at 17:19
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2Perhaps directly, but I would never use the term "unholster" in spoken English and I have never heard the term used. My body of watching westerns, however, has heard "draw" more times than I can remember :)– BrendonCommented Oct 31, 2011 at 17:21
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2Well, don't you think that you can unholster a gun to clean it? You don't necessarily draw it and shoot. You just unholster, clean it and holster it back :) Commented Oct 31, 2011 at 17:22
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That's a fair point, but most of the time if you were discussing cleaning a gun, the removal from the holster would likely be omitted. More context is needed, however, from the original question.– BrendonCommented Oct 31, 2011 at 17:24
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I think the video game Mass Effect used the term "unholster" (IIRC the "H" key could holster and unholster), I'd have to check the manual when I get home to be sure. Commented Oct 31, 2011 at 17:27
I'd suggest that draw and unholster are subtly different- to draw a firearm is to remove it from the holster with intent to use it (or at least threaten such use); unholster would be more commonly used when surrendering or relinquishing a weapon, either for reasons of military discipline or to return to stores when no longer required.
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I think this is the key distinction, and it’s one of body language and intent. When I hear unholster, I infer the gunman’s finger is not on the trigger, and the safety may even be on. When I hear draw, I infer the gunman’s finger is on the trigger, the safety is off, and he may even be aiming. It’s similar to unsheathe versus draw for a sword or knife. Commented Feb 11, 2016 at 4:51
I was drawn here because I am writing a story where an officer is shot before he has a chance to "unholster" his gun. Dictionary.com does not recognize this word, and I don't want to use the word "draw" for purely artistic reasons. I thought I had heard the word "unholster" as well. What is a reasonable antonym, other than "draw?" Thanks!
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Welcome to English Language & Usage. Your answer has already been posted by another user and doesn't provide any additional information. Please take the tour and visit our help center for additional guidance.– user140086Commented Feb 11, 2016 at 4:01