piper

[ pahy-per ]

noun

1. a person who plays on a pipe.
2. a bagpiper.

Piper

¹

/ ˈpaɪpə /

noun

1. PiperJohn19031992MBritishARTS AND CRAFTS: artist John. 1903–92, British artist. An official war artist in World War II, he is known esp for his watercolours of bombed churches and his stained glass in Coventry Cathedral

piper

²

/ ˈpaɪpə /

noun

1. a person who plays a pipe or bagpipes
2. pay the piper and call the tune
   pay the piper and call the tune to bear the cost of an undertaking and control it

Word History and Origins

Origin of piper¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English pīpere. See pipe ¹, -er ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. pay the piper,
   1. to pay the cost of something.
   2. to bear the unfavorable consequences of one's actions or pleasures:

      Someday he'll have to pay the piper for all that gambling.

More idioms and phrases containing piper

see call the tune (pay the piper) .

Example Sentences

The life Piper longs for, whether with Larry or Alex, might not look much different.

From The Daily Beast

Sure, Nancy has the fish-out-of-water thing going on, but that attribute often defines Piper.

From The Daily Beast

OITNB has so far neglected to grace Alex with a sibling, but Piper has a brother who has figured prominently.

From The Daily Beast

It would not be unreasonable to assume Piper might do the same to Litchfield if given the opportunity.

From The Daily Beast

Although her age is never explicitly stated, Nancy is not considerably older than Piper (the real Kerman went to jail at 35).

From The Daily Beast

But the Great Southern were the real promoters of both; they paid the piper and, therefore, called the tune.

From Project Gutenberg

The piper was taken away senseless, but my brother would not suffer either Joe or Alley to be disturbed till breakfast was ready.

From Project Gutenberg

Dorothy's slight figure came hurtling out of the pit's mouth, tossed to their very feet by the long arms of Peter Piper.

From Project Gutenberg

As they came up Peter Piper cast one glance upon them, then hid his face and shuddered.

From Project Gutenberg

By the blessed piper that played before Moses, here's an Irish Turk!

From Project Gutenberg