bagpipe

noun

bag·​pipe ˈbag-ˌpīp 

: a wind instrument consisting of a reed melody pipe and from one to five drones with air supplied continuously either by a bag with valve-stopped mouth tube or by bellows

—often used in plural

bagpiper

ˈbag-ˌpī-pər 

noun

Illustration of bagpipe

Did you know?

This is a wind instrument that consists of two or more single- or double-reed pipes. The reeds are vibrated by wind caused by arm pressure on a skin or cloth bag. The pipes are held in wooden sockets tied into the bag, which is inflated either by the mouth or by bellows strapped to the body. Melodies are played on the finger holes of the melody pipe, or chanter, while the remaining pipes, or drones, sound single notes. Bagpipes existed by c. 100 ce. The early bag was an animal bladder or a nearly whole sheepskin or goatskin. Bagpipes have always been folk instruments. An important related instrument is the Irish union (or uilleann) pipes.

Examples of bagpipe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dyed-in-the-wool Jacobites survive mainly among Americans who attend Highland games and enroll their children in bagpipe classes. —Charles King, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2012

Kalamazoo Pipe Band, a bagpipe band, performs on main stage with Scottish Country Dancers. —Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 12 Sep. 2024

Brennan walked down the aisle to Irish bagpipes, and the whole crew enjoyed a performance by a Middle Eastern quartet during the cocktail hour. —Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 1 Oct. 2024

The September sunshine beat down on a group playing bagpipes outside St. Christina Catholic Church, following a service where prayers were offered for the fallen former officer, who everyone called Jim. —Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bagpipe

noun

bag·​pipe ˈbag-ˌpīp 

: a musical instrument played especially in Scotland that consists of a bag for air, a mouth tube for blowing up the air bag, and pipes which give a sound when air passes through them

—often used in plural

bagpiper

-ˌpī-pər 

noun