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.

From The New Yorker

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

From BBC

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

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg