Illustration of bagpipe
: 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
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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
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Of course there will be bagpipes on Saturday, the eve of Tartan Day, when Carnegie Hall will host a lineup of stars.
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Corinna Da Fonseca-Wollheim, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
The wild Scottish ensemble that wear kilts while playing rock covers on bagpipes and more modern instruments play two Connecticut shows in the same week: March 9 at 7 p.m. in Bristol ($52; downtownlivect.com).
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2025
They are based on the legend that some of the shepherds who visited baby Jesus felt compelled to play their bagpipes.
—Chad De Guzman, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024
As Irish patriotism in the U.S. grew, annual parades of bagpipes, drums and dancing became the norm.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2025
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Corinna Da Fonseca-Wollheim, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
The wild Scottish ensemble that wear kilts while playing rock covers on bagpipes and more modern instruments play two Connecticut shows in the same week: March 9 at 7 p.m. in Bristol ($52; downtownlivect.com).
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2025
They are based on the legend that some of the shepherds who visited baby Jesus felt compelled to play their bagpipes.
—Chad De Guzman, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024
As Irish patriotism in the U.S. grew, annual parades of bagpipes, drums and dancing became the norm.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bagpipe
Cite this Entry
“Bagpipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bagpipe. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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