pipe

plural pipes

1. Meanings relating to a wind instrument.
   1. entertainmentA wind instrument consisting of a tube, often lined with holes to allow for adjustment in pitch, sounded by blowing into the tube.First known use 10th c.

      Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen to glen, and down the mountain side, The summer's gone and all the roses falling, It's you, it's you must go and I must bide.

      1913, “Danny Boy: Song Adapted from an Old Irish Air”, Fred[eric] E[dward] Weatherly (lyrics), New York, N.Y.; London: Boosey & Co […], →OCLC, page 1

   2. entertainmentA tube used to produce sound in an organ; an organ pipe.First known use 14th c.

      Most theater organs use many sets (ranks) of reed and flue pipes of various shapes, pipe scales, and so forth to generate a variety of timbres.

      1980, Harvey E[lliott] White, Donald H. White, “Wind Instruments”, in Physics and Music: The Science of Musical Sound, Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders College Pub./Holt, Rinehart and Winston, →ISBN, page 245; republished Mineola, N.Y.: Dover Publications, 2014, →ISBN, part 3 (Musical Instruments), section 18.7 (The Theater Organ), page 245

   3. The key or sound of the voice.First known use 16th c.

      For they ſhall yet belye thy happy yeeres, That ſay thou art a man: Dianas lip Is not more ſmooth, and rubious: thy ſmall pipe Is as the maidens organ, ſhrill, and ſound, And all is ſemblatiue a womans part.

      c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv], page 257, column 2

   4. A high-pitched sound, especially of a bird.First known use 18th c.

      Ah, sad and strange as in dark summer dawns The earliest pipe of half-awaken'd birds To dying ears, when unto dying eyes The casement slowly grows a glimmering square; So sad, so strange, the days that are no more.

      1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Part IV”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, pages 66–67

2. Meanings relating to a hollow conduit.
   1. A rigid tube that transports water, steam, or other fluid, as used in plumbing and numerous other applications.First known use 10th c.

      1 more example

      A standard Flight Refuelling Ltd Mk 8 probe nozzle was attached to the probe structural tube and fuel pipe. The pipe was double-walled, and passed through into the fuselage aft of the flight deck; […] A non-return valve was fitted within the fuel pipe aft of the probe nozzle, thus preventing any leakage of fuel if the aircraft lost the probe nozzle inadvertently.

      2006, Richard M. Tanner, “Lockheed Tristar: Single-point Tanker”, in History of Air-to-air Refuelling, Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Aviation, Pen & Sword Books, →ISBN, part 2 (Technology), page 286, column 1

      Synonyms: tube

   2. especiallyA water pipe.First known use 10th c.

      A burst pipe flooded my bathroom.

      1 more example

      Corrosion control can be accomplished in distribution systems by adding compounds that form a protective film on the pipe surface, thereby providing a barrier between the water and the pipe.

      2000, Richard L. Valentine et al., “Chlorine and Monochloramine Decay in Batch and Loop Experiments”, in The Role of the Pipe–Water Interface in DBP Formation and Disinfectant Loss, Iowa City, Ia.: University of Iowa, →ISBN, page 115

      Synonyms: tube

   3. A tubular passageway in the human body such as a blood vessel or the windpipe.First known use 14th c.

      Amongst the vessels of the human body, the pipe which conveys the saliva from the place where it is made, to the place where it is wanted, deserves to be reckoned amongst the most intelligible pieces of mechanism with which we are acquainted.

      1802, William Paley, “Of the Vessels of Animal Bodies”, in Natural Theology or Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity, Philadelphia, Pa.: John Morgan, […], →OCLC, pages 125–126

      Synonyms: tube

   4. slangA man's penis.

      He grabs my legs and throws them over his shoulders, putting his big pipe inside me […]

      2006, Monique A. Williams, Neurotica: An Honest Examination into Urban Sexual Relations, [Morrisville, N.C.]: Lulu Enterprises, →ISBN, page 7

      2 more examples

      He punctuated his demand with a deep thrust up CJ's hole. His giant pipe drove almost all the way in, pulsing against his fingers beside it.

      2010, Eric Summers, editor, Teammates, Sarasota, Fla.: StarBooks, →ISBN, page 90

      He laughed as he knelt down between Duncan's splayed thighs and tore open a packaged condom, then rolled it down over his big fuck-pipe.

      2011, Mickey Erlach, Gym Buddies & Buff Boys, Sarasota, Fla.: StarBooks, →ISBN, page 64

      Synonyms: tube

3. Meanings relating to a container.
   1. A large container for storing liquids or foodstuffs; now especially a vat or cask of cider or wine. (See a diagram comparing cask sizes.)First known use 14th c.

      Meronym: pipestave

      2 more examples

      Mr Barretto informed us he had shipped two hundred and forty pipes of Madeira [which] not only impeded the ship's progress by making her too deep in the water, but greatly increased her motion.

      1808–10, William Hickey, Memoirs of a Georgian Rake, Folio Society 1995, p. 329

      My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day! But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts.

      1846, Edgar Allan Poe, “The Cask of Amontillado”, in The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, volume I, New York: W. J. Widdleton, published 1849, page 347, →OCLC

   2. The contents of such a vessel, as a liquid measure, sometimes set at 126 wine gallons; half a tun.First known use 14th c.

      Again, by 28 Hen. VIII, cap. 14, it is re-enacted that the tun of wine should contain 252 gallons, a butt of Malmsey 126 gallons, a pipe 126 gallons, a tercian or puncheon 84 gallons, a hogshead 63 gallons, a tierce 41 gallons, a barrel 31½ gallons, a rundlet 18½ gallons.

      1882, James E[dwin] Thorold Rogers, “Weights and Measures”, in A History of Agriculture and Prices in England from the Year after the Oxford Parliament (1259) to the Commencement of the Continental War (1793) […], volumes IV (1401–1582), Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 205

      Synonyms: butt

4. Meanings relating to something resembling a tube.
   1. Decorative edging stitched to the hems or seams of an object made of fabric (clothing, hats, curtains, pillows, etc.), often in a contrasting color; piping.First known use 15th c.
   2. A type of pasta similar to macaroni.
   3. geographyA vertical conduit through the Earth's crust below a volcano through which magma has passed, often filled with volcanic breccia.First known use 19th c.

      While the pipe of a conventional volcano may extend down 50 miles or so, the volcanic pipes that pick up diamonds along the way had to go much deeper, perhaps as deep as 300 miles.

      1995 March, Jon Bowermaster, “Diamond Rush in the Arctic”, in Fred Abatemarco, editor, Popular Science, volume 246, number 3, New York, N.Y.: Times Mirror Magazines, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 83, columns 2–3

      1 more example

      Some researchers think that the warming was caused as kimberlite pipes (volcanic vents originating deep in the Earth’s mantle) reached the surface near Lac de Gras in northern Canada and released huge amounts of carbon.

      2018, Tim Flannery, Europe: A Natural History, page 54

      Synonyms: pan

   4. ball gamesOne of the goalposts of the goal.
   5. businessAn elongated or irregular body or vein of ore.First known use 17th c.
   6. AustraliacolloquialhistoricalAn anonymous satire or essay, insulting and frequently libellous, written on a piece of paper which was rolled up and left somewhere public where it could be found and thus spread, to embarrass the author's enemies.First known use 19th c.

      1 more example

      On Thursday Mr. William Bland, formerly a Surgeon in the Royal Navy, […] was brought to trial on a charge of libelling the Governor [Lachlan Macquarie], by the composition and publishing of various letters and verses contained in a manuscript book dropped on the Parramatta Road—and thence brought to light. […] [H]owever lenient the sentence passed upon this young man, yet, it is much to be hoped, that from his example pipe-making will in future be reposed solely in the hands of Mr. Wm. Cluer [an earthenware pipe maker] of the Brickfield Hill.

      1818 September 26, “Sydney. [Criminal Court.]”, in Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, volume XVI, number 775, Sydney, N.S.W.: By authority [government printer], →OCLC, page 3, columns 2–3

5. Meanings relating to computing.
   1. computingA mechanism that enables one program to communicate with another by sending its output to the other as input.First known use 20th c.
   2. slangcomputingA data backbone, or broadband Internet access.First known use 20th c.

      A fat pipe is a high-bandwidth connection.

   3. metonymicallycomputingThe character |.First known use 20th c.

      While parseing an xml document( sax parser ), trying to replace ' | ' with ' & ' , it finds the pipe, but won't replace with amper.

      2001 July 13, JimmyMac, “java and xml”, in comp.lang.java.help (Usenet)

      Synonyms: bar, vertical bar, vertical line, virgule

6. Meanings relating to a smoking implement.
   1. lifestyleA hollow stem with a bowl at one end used for smoking, especially a tobacco pipe but also including various other forms such as a water pipe.First known use 16th c.

      In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle—a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening for a pipe and a cheerful glass.

      1892, Walter Besant, “The Select Circle”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 46

      1 more example

      Sitting in among the wares he dealt in, by a charcoal-stove, made of old bricks, was a gray-haired rascal, nearly seventy years of age; who had screened himself from the cold air without, by a frousy curtaining of miscellaneous tatters, hung upon a line; and smoked his pipe in all the luxury of calm retirement.

      1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Four. The Last of the Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 129

   2. CanadaUScolloquialhistoricalThe distance travelled between two rest periods during which one could smoke a pipe.First known use 18th c.
7. slangA telephone.

   “Let's try to get on the pipe to Admiral Collier again.”

   1980, Charles D. Taylor, Show of Force

   Synonyms: blower

present singular third person pipes · participle present piping · participle past piped · past piped

1. ambitransitiveTo play (music) on a pipe instrument, such as a bagpipe or a flute.

   [T]he pide Piper with a ſhrill pipe went piping through the ſtreets, and forthwith the rats came all running out of the houſes in great numbers after him; all which hee led into the riuer of Weaſer and therein drowned them.

   1605, R[ichard] V[erstegan], “Of the Antient Manner of Living of Ovr Saxon Ancestors. […]”, in A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence: In Antiquities. Concerning the Most Noble and Renovvmed^([sic – meaning Renovvned]) English Nation. […], printed at Antwerp: By Robert Bruney; […] [a]nd to be sold […], by Iohn Norton and Iohn Bill, →OCLC; republished London: Printed by Iohn Bill, […], 1628, →OCLC, page 85

   1 more example

   Piping down the valleys wild / Piping songs of pleasant glee / On a cloud I saw a child. / And he laughing said to me / Pipe a song about a Lamb: / So I piped with merry chear. / Piper pipe that song again – / So I piped, he wept to hear.

   1789, William Blake, “Introduction”, in Songs of Innocence

2. intransitiveTo shout loudly and at high pitch.

   "Ar—cher—Ja—cob!" Johnny piped after her, pivoting round on his heel, and strewing the grass and leaves in his hands as if he were sowing seed.

   1922 October 26, Virginia Woolf, chapter II, in Jacob’s Room, Richmond, London: […] Leonard & Virginia Woolf at the Hogarth Press, →OCLC; republished London: The Hogarth Press, 1960, →OCLC, page 17

3. intransitiveTo emit or have a shrill sound like that of a pipe; to whistle.

   [W]ith the mariners A fellow-mariner,—and so had fared Through twenty seasons; but he had been rear'd Among the mountains, and he in his heart Was half a Shepherd on the stormy seas. Oft in the piping shrouds had Leonard heard The tones of waterfalls, and inland sounds Of caves and trees: […]

   1827, William Wordsworth, “The Brothers”, in The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth. In Five Volumes, volume I, London: Printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, […], →OCLC, page 125

4. intransitiveOf a queen bee: to make a high-pitched sound during certain stages of development.
5. intransitiveengineeringOf a metal ingot: to become hollow in the process of solidifying.
6. transitiveTo convey or transport (something) by means of pipes.
7. transitiveTo install or configure with pipes.
8. transitiveTo dab moisture away from.

   Our chimney was a square hole in the roof; it was but a little part of the smoke that found its way out, and the rest eddied about the house, and kept us coughing and piping the eye.

   1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Narrative Resumed by Jim Hawkins: The Garrison in the Stockade”, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part IV (The Stockade), pages 153–154

9. figurativelytransitiveTo lead or conduct as if by pipes, especially by wired transmission.

   Soft baroque music pipes through the ornate, dripping-with-gold church sanctuary.

   2009, Susan Van Allen, “Churches Dedicated to Female Saints—Rome”, in 100 Places in Italy Every Woman should Go, Palo Alto, Calif.: Travelers’ Tales, Solas House, →ISBN, section I (The Divine: Goddesses, Saints, and the Blessed Virgin Mary), page 20

10. UnixtransitivecomputingTo directly feed (the output of one program) as input to another program, indicated by the pipe character (|) at the command line.

    We can just pipe the output of our command into sed to get rid of any leading whitespaces.

11. transitivecookingTo create or decorate with piping (icing).

    to pipe flowers on to a cupcake

    1 more example

    This means a quantity of runouts can be made in advance, allowing more time to flat ice and pipe the cake.

    1998, Nicholas Lodge, Janice Murfitt, The International School of Sugarcraft: Book One: Beginners, London: Merehurst Press, →ISBN, page 108

12. transitivenauticalTo order or signal by a note pattern on a boatswain's pipe.

    Pipe down the starboard watch, boatswain, and see that they go.

    1888–1891, Herman Melville, “[Billy Budd, Foretopman.] Chapter XXIII.”, in Billy Budd and Other Stories, London: John Lehmann, published 1951, →OCLC, page 298

13. slangtransitiveTo have sex with a woman.

    Now this bitch calling me Pacino, she thinks she fifer The only thing on my mind is tryna pipe her

    2022 October 20, “Bitch”, Sliknik (lyrics), 2:21

    1 more example

    How you got everybody lit, pipin' up? Oh, she bad with no swag, I can pipe her up Made my last one my last one, I'm wifin' her

    2017 September 7, “Heatin Up”, in Lil Baby (lyrics), My Turn, 1:57

14. datedslangtransitiveTo see.

    "Hey, Greek," Roger was saying, his droning voice coming unpleasantly into the other's musings, "did you pipe that? Did you ever see anything like her?"

    1914, Jackson Gregory, Under Handicap

    1 more example

    So I went and laid down on the grass. While laying there I piped a reeler whom I knew. He had a nark (a policeman's spy) with him. So I went and looked about for my two pals, and told them to look out for F. and his nark.

    1879 October, J[ohn] W[illiam] Horsley, “Autobiography of a Thief in Thieves’ Language”, in Macmillan’s Magazine, volume XL, number 240, London: Macmillan and Co. […], →OCLC, page 505, column 1

    Synonyms: behold, decern, notice, spot

15. USslangjournalismTo invent or embellish (a story).

    Reporters today supposedly do not use "piped" stories because they are unethical.

    2008, Homer L. Hall, Logan H. Aimone, High School Journalism, page 91

    2 more examples

    […] who ostensibly was handed an all-day sucker by a warm-hearted bandit in the act of robbing a candy store of $40, there was no moral outcry. "Find the girl," was the immediate response of competing editors to their reporters at police headquarters. The men of the press, who knew a piped story when they saw one, quickly found another little girl, presented her with a lollipop, and photographed her skipping rope in front of the candy store.

    1981, Elie Abel, What's News: The Media in American Society, page 259

    If there was a lull in criminal activity, reporters were not above "piping" a story.

    2004, Arthur Gelb, City Room, page 154

16. transitiveTo hit with a pipe.

    It goes without saying at every turn the cops and I were at it. It was said he may not be a great fighter but he'll stab or pipe anyone, cop or con.

    1986 February 1, anonymous author, “"Fuck Dolls" Fight Back”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 28, page 4

1. A surname.
2. An unincorporated community in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. Named after the calumet (pipe) smoked by native Americans.

plural PIPEs

1. abbreviationacronymbusinessAcronym of private investment in public equity.