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
Recent Examples on the Web
The ceremony will feature a wreath placement, bagpipes, speakers, Piper High School JROTC presentation of colors, and Sunrise police and fire rescue honor guards.
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Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2026
Before United’s flight to Glasgow departed, in addition to the bagpipes, there was a ribbon cutting and talks from executives and tourism officials.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 10 May 2026
The German served up wiener schnitzel the following year, while in 1988 Scotland’s Sandy Lyle laid on some haggis – sheep’s offal minced, spiced and served in its stomach, and plated up to the sound of bagpipes.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
There will be a raising of a fire engine ladder to the sixth floor, accompanied by FDNY bagpipes.
—Christina Ray Stanton, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
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Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2026
Before United’s flight to Glasgow departed, in addition to the bagpipes, there was a ribbon cutting and talks from executives and tourism officials.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 10 May 2026
The German served up wiener schnitzel the following year, while in 1988 Scotland’s Sandy Lyle laid on some haggis – sheep’s offal minced, spiced and served in its stomach, and plated up to the sound of bagpipes.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
There will be a raising of a fire engine ladder to the sixth floor, accompanied by FDNY bagpipes.
—Christina Ray Stanton, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bagpipe
Cite this Entry
“Bagpipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bagpipe. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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