pibroch

[pee-brokh]

noun

1. (in the Scottish Highlands) a piece of music for the bagpipe, consisting of a series of variations on a basic theme, usually martial in character, but sometimes used as a dirge.

pibroch

/ ˈpiːbrɒx, ˈpiːbrɒk /

noun

1. a form of music for Scottish bagpipes, consisting of a theme and variations

2. a piece of such music

Word History and Origins

Origin of pibroch¹

1710–20; < Scots Gaelic piobaireachd piper music, equivalent to piobair piper ( piob pipe ¹ + -air agent suffix ≪ Latin -ārius -ary ) + -eachd noun suffix denoting quality or state

Word History and Origins

Origin of pibroch¹

C18: from Gaelic piobaireachd, from piobair piper

Example Sentences

He was an oddball who played pibroch, ancient Celtic bagpipes that predate musical notation and are taught by voice.

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English speakers in Scotland may know more words of Scottish Gaelic origin, like cranachan, a type of dessert, pibroch, bagpipe music, Sassenach, Englishman.

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One hundred and thirty years ago the bagpipes of the 'Gay Gordons' first swirled the pibroch.

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Next came the spirited march, then the wilder pibroch as the foe was sighted, then wilder rushing music still; the fight was going on now, you could feel that.

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"Savage and shrill" is the Byronic description of the pibroch, which, in the "noon of night," startled the joyous revellers before Waterloo.

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