: 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
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 WebThere will be bagpipes, an honor guard, speakers and a wreath presentation.—Heather McRea, Orange County Register, 21 May 2024 Looking through the third floor windows of City Hall, employees watched as bagpipe players led a Kansas City Police Motorcycle Unit down Locust Street.—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2024 Watch Just My Luck on Hulu 09 of 11
Once (2007)
Between the Irish step dance and the jig, music — let alone bagpipes — is synonymous with St. Patrick's Day.—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 In the middle of the Irish green beer and sliced potatoes, Pressel will play Scottish bagpipe classics.—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bagpipe
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bagpipe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
: 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
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