bagpipe

Everyday

The bagpipes are a musical instrument with a bag that the player fills with air and squeezes, and pipes that make a loud, buzzing sound. tree →

In the lessons

In music lessons and stories about Scotland and Ireland; played at weddings, parades and funerals; it shows Scottish tradition; phrases: play the bagpipes, a bagpipe player (piper).

Examples

• The piper played the bagpipes at the wedding. tree →
• You can hear bagpipes from a long way away. tree →
• Bagpipes are famous in Scotland. tree →
• The bagpipe player wore a kilt. tree →
• Ireland and Spain have their own kinds of bagpipe. tree →
• There they found the ratcatcher playing his bagpipes at the same spot as the evening before. tree →

Note

Usually plural: «the bagpipes», «play the bagpipes». A player is a «piper». Myth: bagpipes are not only Scottish; many countries have them.

In Jewish tradition

Here it is a musical instrument in the list of sounds that signaled the people to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's golden image.

Interpretation. Jewish tradition reads the music as a test of loyalty. Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah refused to bow, and so they put loyalty to God above the king's command.

Examples

• that at what time ye hear the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up; (Writings DAN.3.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image; (Writings DAN.3.10, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Usually plural: «the bagpipes», «play the bagpipes». A player is a «piper». Myth: bagpipes are not only Scottish; many countries have them.