pied piper

UK/paɪd ˈpaɪ.pə/

noun

That which draws many in its wake.

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Meanings

pied piper1

nounpied piper (plural pied pipers)

plural pied pipers

  1. That which draws many in its wake.

Pied Piper2

proper nounthe Pied Piper
  1. A folk tale or legend, dating back to the Middle Ages, about a ratcatcher in variegated attire, hired by the German town of Hamelin, who is not paid for his services and retaliates by luring away the local children by playing a flute.
  2. The flute-playing ratcatcher who is the protagonist and title character of this story.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
common kingsnake

Origin

pied piper · noun

From the folk tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, who led away the townsfolk's children in revenge for not being paid after ridding the town of rats.

Full word history & related roots →

Pied Piper · proper noun

Short for Pied Piper of Hamelin, from pied and piper.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan El flautista d'Hamelín
  • El flautista d'Hamelína folk tale
Chinese Mandarin 吸引物, 號召力 /号召力
  • 吸引物anyone or anything that draws many in its wake
  • 號召力 /号召力 (hàozhàolì)anyone or anything that draws many in its wake
Czech Krysař z Hamelnu, Krysař
  • Krysař z Hamelnua folk tale
  • Krysařthe main character in this story
Finnish Hamelnin pillipiipari
  • Hamelnin pillipiiparianyone or anything that draws many in its wake
French Joueur de flûte de Hamelin, Joueur de flûte de Hamelin
  • Joueur de flûte de Hamelina folk tale
  • Joueur de flûte de Hamelinthe main character in this story
German Rattenfänger, Rattenfänger von Hameln
  • Rattenfängeranyone or anything that draws many in its wake
  • Rattenfänger von Hamelna folk tale
  • Rattenfänger von Hamelnthe main character in this story
Irish An Píobaire Breac, Píobaire Breac
  • An Píobaire Breaca folk tale
  • Píobaire Breacthe main character in this story
Polish Flecista z Hameln, Szczurołap z Hameln
  • Flecista z Hamelna folk tale
  • Szczurołap z Hamelna folk tale
  • Flecista z Hamelnthe main character in this story
  • Szczurołap z Hamelnthe main character in this story
Portuguese flautista de Hamelin
  • flautista de Hamelinanyone or anything that draws many in its wake
Russian Га́мельнский крысоло́в, Га́мельнский Крысоло́в
  • Га́мельнский крысоло́в (Gámelʹnskij krysolóv)anyone or anything that draws many in its wake
  • Га́мельнский Крысоло́в (Gámelʹnskij Krysolóv)a folk tale
  • Га́мельнский Крысоло́в (Gámelʹnskij Krysolóv)the main character in this story
Turkish Fareli Köyün Kavalcısı, Fareli Köyün Kavalcısı
  • Fareli Köyün Kavalcısıa folk tale
  • Fareli Köyün Kavalcısıthe main character in this story
Cite this entry
APA

pied piper. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pied%20piper

MLA

“pied piper.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pied%20piper. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pied piper,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pied%20piper.

Source: pied piper on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.