pibroch

American  

[pee-brokh] / ˈpi brɒx /

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.

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pibroch British  

/ ˈpiːbrɒx, ˈpiːbrɒk /

noun

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

2. a piece of such music

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Etymology

Origin of pibroch

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

Example Sentences

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

From The New Yorker • Aug. 22, 2016

As they drove off in a crystal coach, bagpipers skirled a pibroch, and the great bells pealed.

From Time Magazine Archive

There developed in Scotland a warlike form of music called in Gaelic Piobaireachd in English, pibroch.

From Time Magazine Archive

In 18th century football matches, each team had its bag- piper who entered the field and played the pibroch during the game to inspirit the players.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From The Coo-ee Reciter by Various