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
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Palestinian scouts paraded through the streets but without their traditional instruments of drums, horns and bagpipes.
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Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 25 Dec. 2024
Visitors are seeking immersive experiences including wanting to create their own whiskey blends or learn how to play the bagpipes.
—Michele Herrmann, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Julian Gomez, a 1986 Father Ryan graduate, plays the bagpipes in a Double Davidson kilt at the 50-yard line before each kickoff.
—Tyler Palmateer, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
The bagpipes and highlands do not scream Colonial Williamsburg.
—Lincee Ray, EW.com, 23 Nov. 2024
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Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 25 Dec. 2024
Visitors are seeking immersive experiences including wanting to create their own whiskey blends or learn how to play the bagpipes.
—Michele Herrmann, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Julian Gomez, a 1986 Father Ryan graduate, plays the bagpipes in a Double Davidson kilt at the 50-yard line before each kickoff.
—Tyler Palmateer, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
The bagpipes and highlands do not scream Colonial Williamsburg.
—Lincee Ray, EW.com, 23 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bagpipe
Dictionary Entries Near bagpipe
Cite this Entry
“Bagpipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bagpipe. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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