Killed, senselessly using some pistols (4)
I believe the answer is:
lost
'killed' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lost that I've seen before include "Unable to be found" , "See 10" , "at sea" , "Mislaid or was defeated" , "See 8" .)