Definition of "hornpipe" []

• A musical instrument with a single reed, finger holes, and a bell and mouthpiece made of horn. (noun)
• A spirited British folk dance originally accompanied by this instrument. (noun)
• The music accompanying such a dance. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Howsomdever, my lady, if you and the young ladies and Sir Henry please, and Miss Julia will just strike up a bit of a tune, I'll shuffle my feet about and show you what we call a hornpipe at sea."
• "Modern urban legend or traditional Celtic myth, there is a popular belief rumored from person to person by way of legend saying that a certain hornpipe melody has the ability to attract Nessie to the surface, however only a few people that know the music are still alive today."
• "Something about a cat (Jenny?) who lived in a Firehouse and danced the hornpipe was the first chapter book."