Pipe

(1 Sam. 10:5; 1 Kings 1:40; Isa. 5:12; 30:29). The Hebrew word halil, so rendered, means “bored through,” and is the name given to various kinds of wind instruments, as the fife, flute, Pan-pipes, etc. In Amos 6:5 this word is rendered “instrument of music.” This instrument is mentioned also in the New Testament (Matt. 11:17; 1 Cor. 14:7). It is still used in Palestine, and is, as in ancient times, made of different materials, as reed, copper, bronze, etc.

(Heb. chalil). The Hebrew word so rendered is derived from a root signifying “to bore, perforate” and is represented with sufficient correctness by the English “pipe” or “flute,” as in the margin of (1 Kings 1:40) The pipe was the type of perforated wind instruments, as the harp was of stringed instruments. It was made of reed, bronze or copper. It is one of the simplest, and therefore probably one of the oldest, of musical Instruments. It is associated with the tabret as an instrument of a peaceful and social character. The pipe and tabret were used at the banquets of the Hebrews, (Isaiah 5:12) and accompanied the simpler religious services when the young prophets, returning from the high place, caught their inspiration from the harmony, (1 Samuel 10:5) or the pilgrims, on their way to the great festivals of their ritual, beguiled the weariness of the march with psalms sung to the simple music of the pipe. (Isaiah 30:29) The sound of the pipe was apparently a soft wailing note, which made it appropriate to be used in mourning and at funerals (Matthew 9:23) and in the lament of the prophet over the destruction of Moab. (Jeremiah 48:36) It was even used in the temple choir, as appears from (Psalms 87:7) In later times the funeral and death-bed were never without the professional pipers or flute-players, (Matthew 9:23) a custom which still exists. In the social and festive life of the Egyptians the pipe played as prominent a part as among the Hebrews.

PIPE, or FLUTE, similar to the present instrument, was the principal perforated wind instrument among the Hebrews, as the harp was the principal string instrument. It was made of different materials, reed, copper, bronze, etc., and was played on all occasions - the procession, 1 Kgs 1:40, the banquet, Isa 5:12, the wedding, the funeral. Matt 9:23. Thus, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in the religious festivals and in private life, the pipe, the simplest, and probably the oldest, musical instrument, was heard. See Music and Musical Instruments.

PIPE, or FLUTE, similar to the present instrument, was the principal perforated wind instrument among the Hebrews, as the harp was the principal string instrument. It was made of different materials, reed, copper, bronze, etc., and was played on all occasions - the procession, 1 Kgs 1:40, the banquet, Isa 5:12, the wedding, the funeral. Matt 9:23. Thus, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in the religious festivals and in private life, the pipe, the simplest, and probably the oldest, musical instrument, was heard. See Music and Musical Instruments.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. A wind instrument of music, consisting of a tube or tubes of straw, reed, wood, or metal; any tube which produces musical sounds; as, a shepherd's pipe; the pipe of an organ. "Tunable as sylvan pipe." Milton. Now had he rather hear the tabor and the pipe. Shak.

2. Any long tube or hollow body of wood, metal, earthenware, or the like: especially, one used as a conductor of water, steam, gas, etc.

3. A small bowl with a hollow steam, -- used in smoking tobacco, and, sometimes, other substances.

4. A passageway for the air in speaking and breathing; the windpipe, or one of its divisions.

5. The key or sound of the voice. [R.] Shak.

6. The peeping whistle, call, or note of a bird. The earliest pipe of half-awakened birds. Tennyson.

7. The bagpipe; as, the pipes of Lucknow.

8. An elongated body or vein of ore.

9. A roll formerly used in the English exchequer, otherwise called the Great Roll, on which were taken down the accounts of debts to the king; -- so called because put together like a pipe. Mozley & W.

10. A boatswain's whistle, used to call the crew to their duties; also, the sound of it.

11. A cask usually containing two hogsheads, or 126 wine gallons; also, the quantity which it contains. Pipe fitter, one who fits pipes together, or applies pipes, as to an engine or a building. -- Pipe fitting, a piece, as a coupling, an elbow, a valve, etc., used for connecting lengths of pipe or as accessory to a pipe. -- Pipe office, an ancient office in the Court of Exchequer, in which the clerk of the pipe made out leases of crown lands, accounts of cheriffs, etc. [Eng.] -- Pipe tree (Bot.), the lilac and the mock orange; -- so called because their were formerly used to make pipe stems; -- called also pipe privet. -- Pipe wrench, or Pipetongs, a jawed tool for gripping a pipe, in turning or holding it. -- To smoke the pipe of peace, to smoke from the same pipe in token of amity or preparatory to making a treaty of peace, -- a custom of the American Indians.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To play on a pipe, fife, flute, or other tubular wind instrument of music. We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced. Matt. xi. 17.

2. To call, convey orders, etc., by means of signals on a pipe or whistle carried by a boatswain.

3. To emit or have a shrill sound like that of a pipe; to whistle. "Oft in the piping shrouds." Wordsworth.

4. To become hollow in the process of solodifying; -- said of an ingot, as of steel.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To perform, as a tune, by playing on a pipe, flute, fife, etc.; to utter in the shrill tone of a pipe. A robin . . . was piping a few querulous notes. W. Irving.

2. To call or direct, as a crew, by the boatswain's whistle. As fine a ship's company as was ever piped aloft. Marryat.

3. To furnish or equip with pipes; as, to pipe an engine, or a building.