piper

noun

pip·​er ˈpī-pər How to pronounce piper (audio)
: one that plays on a pipe

Examples of piper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The United States has arrived at this long-overdue moment for Saudi Arabia to pay the piper. Richard Sokolsky, Foreign Affairs, 6 Jan. 2016 Following long minutes of silence, a dirge of bagpipes began streaming from the church, suddenly growing loud as 10 pipers emerged with a corps of drummers behind, playing on as pallbearers rolled the casket out. Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 28 June 2024 Other new projects on the radar include ZDF’s Pied Piper horror series Hameln, which sees the children taken by the piper return to the modern-day village from which they were abducted. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 25 June 2024 Cops, lawyers and judges, pay the piper like the rest of us. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for piper 

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of piper was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near piper

Cite this Entry

“Piper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piper. Accessed 6 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

Piper

noun
: a very large genus (the type of the family Piperaceae) of tropical plants that comprise the true peppers, are mostly climbing jointed shrubs with pulpy fruit, and include the betel (P. betle), kava (P. methysticum), and matico (P. angustifolium) and the sources of cubebs (from P. cubeba) and black and white pepper (from P. nigrum)

More from Merriam-Webster on piper

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