hornpipe
1
9.6
A traditional British solo dance with lively steps often done by sailors
- noun
- /ˈhɔːnpaɪp/
- UK
:
hornpipe
- The sailor performed a lively hornpipe that captivated everyone on board.
- Sailor's Hornpipe
Examples
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Well, should I dance a hornpipe on the deck?
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On the positive side, you won't miss out on the father/son hornpipe dance.
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She was so absorbed she would not have noticed him dancing a hornpipe.
Fiction book (1995) -
During the festival, dancers showcased traditional hornpipes that highlighted their skill and energy.
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At the seaside celebration, a young man amazed the crowd with his energetic hornpipe dance.
How Lively
Surface Forms
Etymology
Hornpipe comes from two simple words, horn ('animal horn') and pipe ('tube you play'), because sailors once played a small pipe made from horn. That's why the lively sailor dance was called a hornpipe.