Illustration of bagpipe
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 
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.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web While complete details could not be provided Thursday, previous ceremonies have featured flag presentations, gun salutes and bagpipe music. 
Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 On a breezy afternoon, the strangest of lineups filled a Takoma backyard with bagpipe blasts, harmonica solos and the patter of Colombian drums. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 Then in walked Dimitar, a local musician and friend of Bachvarov, resplendent in his traditional clothes and blowing into his gaida, a Balkan bagpipe made of a goatskin. Sarah Souli, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2022 Corrigan has stuck with bagpipe performance for 20 years, even earning a scholarship to study at Lyon College, a Presbyterian school in Arkansas, for his skills with the instrument. Anne Nickoloff, cleveland, 16 Mar. 2022 For the occasion, Jonathan donned a kilt and showed off his bagpipe skills on his Instagram Stories. Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, 16 June 2022 Porchfest is back, when musicians, actors, and entertainers spread out across the Milwaukie area and sing, dance, bagpipe, juggle or whatever. oregonlive, 13 July 2022 On graduation day, as the bagpipe players warmed up in the hallway of the Virginia G. Piper auditorium, Maya joined her classmates to prepare for their procession through downtown Phoenix. AZCentral.com, 22 May 2022 Survivors and guests made their way to the courthouse with the companionship of officers on motorcycles, bagpipe players and drummers. Amanda Rabines, Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2022 See More
Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 On a breezy afternoon, the strangest of lineups filled a Takoma backyard with bagpipe blasts, harmonica solos and the patter of Colombian drums. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 Then in walked Dimitar, a local musician and friend of Bachvarov, resplendent in his traditional clothes and blowing into his gaida, a Balkan bagpipe made of a goatskin. Sarah Souli, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2022 Corrigan has stuck with bagpipe performance for 20 years, even earning a scholarship to study at Lyon College, a Presbyterian school in Arkansas, for his skills with the instrument. Anne Nickoloff, cleveland, 16 Mar. 2022 For the occasion, Jonathan donned a kilt and showed off his bagpipe skills on his Instagram Stories. Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, 16 June 2022 Porchfest is back, when musicians, actors, and entertainers spread out across the Milwaukie area and sing, dance, bagpipe, juggle or whatever. oregonlive, 13 July 2022 On graduation day, as the bagpipe players warmed up in the hallway of the Virginia G. Piper auditorium, Maya joined her classmates to prepare for their procession through downtown Phoenix. AZCentral.com, 22 May 2022 Survivors and guests made their way to the courthouse with the companionship of officers on motorcycles, bagpipe players and drummers. Amanda Rabines, Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
bagpipe
noun
bag·pipe ˈbag-ˌpīp
: a musical instrument played especially in Scotland that consists of a tube, a bag for air, and pipes from which the sound comes