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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Even in quiet moments—picture foggy mornings, candlelit pubs, the distant wail of bagpipes—Edinburgh feels alive with mystery.
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Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Arriving just before midday, the brothers celebrated by playing the bagpipes and waving Scottish, Australian and UK flags as they were greeted by friends and family including their mother Sheila.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025
Lulu, in her signature curly white wig, dunce cap, and exaggeratedly feminine makeup, and Albert, with his bulbous red nose, would entertain with a lively comedy and musical revue; Lulu played the bagpipes, clarinet, saxophone, coronet, and piano, among other instruments.
—April White, JSTOR Daily, 18 Aug. 2025
The mood is tense, especially when the brothers MacKenzie arrive at the soundtrack of bagpipes.
—Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
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Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Arriving just before midday, the brothers celebrated by playing the bagpipes and waving Scottish, Australian and UK flags as they were greeted by friends and family including their mother Sheila.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025
Lulu, in her signature curly white wig, dunce cap, and exaggeratedly feminine makeup, and Albert, with his bulbous red nose, would entertain with a lively comedy and musical revue; Lulu played the bagpipes, clarinet, saxophone, coronet, and piano, among other instruments.
—April White, JSTOR Daily, 18 Aug. 2025
The mood is tense, especially when the brothers MacKenzie arrive at the soundtrack of bagpipes.
—Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 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 10 Sep. 2025.
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