hornpipe

noun

horn·​pipe ˈhȯrn-ˌpīp 

1

: a single-reed wind instrument consisting of a wooden or bone pipe with finger holes, a bell, and mouthpiece usually of horn

2

: a lively folk dance of the British Isles originally accompanied by hornpipe playing

Examples of hornpipe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In Hell’s Kitchen on Manhattan’s West Side, kids are indeed learning to play the bagpipes—wheezing their way through traditional marches, jigs and hornpipes. —Anne Kadet, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2018

The audience may hear jigs, waltzes, mazurkas, reels, hornpipes and more. —Courant Community, 29 May 2018

The trumpets and horns, facing off on opposite sides of the ensemble, created an energetic, pealing, antiphonal effect in the final hornpipe. —Elaine Schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

hornpipe

noun

horn·​pipe ˈhȯ(ə)rn-ˌpīp 

1

: a wind instrument made up of a wooden or bone pipe and a bell usually of horn

2

: a lively folk dance originally accompanied by hornpipe playing