piper

noun

pip·​er ˈpī-pər 

: one that plays on a pipe

Examples of piper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing piper

• he who pays the piper calls the tune
• pay the piper
• pied piper

Medical Definition

Piper

noun

Pi·​per ˈpī-pər  ˈpip-ər 

: 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)