hornpipe
noun
horn·pipe
ˈhȯrn-ˌpīp 
1
: a single-reed wind instrument consisting of a wooden or bone pipe with finger holes, a bell, and mouthpiece usually of horn
2
: a lively folk dance of the British Isles originally accompanied by hornpipe playing
Examples of hornpipe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In Irish dance circles, Howard was most known for his figure dances, group pieces weaving 12-16 dancers through geometric jigsaw puzzles set to music of your choice, typically a reel, jig or hornpipe.
—
Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2025
Folk musicians including fiddle, guitar, penny whistle, flute, and concertina players are welcome to participate as well as those who just want to listen to jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas and waltzes.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 May 2025
In Hell’s Kitchen on Manhattan’s West Side, kids are indeed learning to play the bagpipes—wheezing their way through traditional marches, jigs and hornpipes.
—Anne Kadet, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2018
The audience may hear jigs, waltzes, mazurkas, reels, hornpipes and more.
—Courant Community, 29 May 2018
The trumpets and horns, facing off on opposite sides of the ensemble, created an energetic, pealing, antiphonal effect in the final hornpipe.
—Elaine Schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2018
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Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2025
Folk musicians including fiddle, guitar, penny whistle, flute, and concertina players are welcome to participate as well as those who just want to listen to jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas and waltzes.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 May 2025
In Hell’s Kitchen on Manhattan’s West Side, kids are indeed learning to play the bagpipes—wheezing their way through traditional marches, jigs and hornpipes.
—Anne Kadet, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2018
The audience may hear jigs, waltzes, mazurkas, reels, hornpipes and more.
—Courant Community, 29 May 2018
The trumpets and horns, facing off on opposite sides of the ensemble, created an energetic, pealing, antiphonal effect in the final hornpipe.
—Elaine Schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Hornpipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hornpipe. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hornpipe
noun
horn·pipe
ˈhȯ(ə)rn-ˌpīp
1
: a wind instrument made up of a wooden or bone pipe and a bell usually of horn
2
: a lively folk dance originally accompanied by hornpipe playing
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