Hornpipe

UK: /ˈhɔː^rnpaɪp/ US: /ˈhɔrnˌpaɪp/ ,(hôrn′pīp′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

horn•pipe /ˈhɔrnˌpaɪp/   n. [countable]

1. Music and Dance a musical wind instrument having one ox horn hiding the reed and another forming the bell.
2. Music and Dance a lively jiglike dance, originally to music played on a hornpipe.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

horn•pipe  (hôrn′pīp′), n. 

1. Music and Dance an English folk clarinet having one ox horn concealing the reed and another forming the bell.
2. Music and Dance a lively jiglike dance, originally to music played on a hornpipe, performed usually by one person, and traditionally a favorite of sailors.
3. Music and Dance a piece of music for or in the style of such a dance.

• Middle English. See horn, pipe¹ 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hornpipe / ˈhɔːnˌpaɪp/ noun

1. an obsolete reed instrument with a mouthpiece made of horn
2. an old British solo dance to a hornpipe accompaniment, traditionally performed by sailors
3. a piece of music for such a dance