Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
hornpipe [hawrn-pahyp] EXAMPLES|WORD ORIGIN noun an English folk clarinet having one ox horn concealing the reed and another forming the bell. a lively jiglike dance, originally to music played on a hornpipe, performed usually by one person, and traditionally a favorite of sailors. a piece of music for or in the style of such a dance. Liberaldictionary.com
Origin of hornpipe 1350–1400; Middle English. See horn, pipe1 Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019 Examples from the Web for hornpipe Historical Examples of hornpipe
It’s like saying your prayers to a hornpipe, thinking of her and carrying on with them wastrels.
Hall Caine
In Britain, you have the hornpipe, a dance which is held an original of this country.
A Treatise on the Art of Dancing
Giovanni-Andrea Gallini
And if it will make your dinner agree with you, I will dance you a hornpipe into the bargain.
Silvio Pellico
Tom was talked about: biceps like thighs, now: a hornpipe danced on the hands.
Andre Castaigne
He intimated also to Jack that he must get up and go through his hornpipe again.
W. H. G. Kingston
British Dictionary definitions for hornpipe hornpipe noun an obsolete reed instrument with a mouthpiece made of horn an old British solo dance to a hornpipe accompaniment, traditionally performed by sailors a piece of music for such a dance Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for hornpipe n.
c.1400, hornepype, “musical instrument with bell and mouthpiece made of horn,” from horn (n.) + pipe (n.1). Later (late 15c.) “dance associated with sailors” (originally performed to music from such an instrument).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
