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

There were bleachers for spectators, food trucks, a band playing live music, the Indy500 Gordon Pipers playing bagpipes, a kids zone and a beer garden for the adults. —Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025

There were bleachers for spectators, food trucks, a band playing live music, the Indy500 Gordon Pipers playing bagpipes, a kids zone and a beer garden for the adults. —Keenan Thompson, Freep.com, 6 Oct. 2025

Charlie Kirk's memorial service has begun to Amazing Grace being played on bagpipes. —Amanda Castro mandy Taheri peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025

This was followed by a display from the bagpipe players of the Scots Guards. —Callum Sutherland, Time, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bagpipe

• blowpipe
• standpipe
• stovepipe
• subtype
• tailpipe
• unripe
• windpipe
• allotype
• antitype
• archetype
• biotype
• collotype

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