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shepherd's pipe

shepherd's pipe

8.9
A small simple flute or pipe played by people who care for sheep
  • noun
translation icon : flauta de pastor
  • As the sun set, the soft melody of the shepherd's pipe filled the valley, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

Examples

  • They walk in beauty to the music of a shepherd's pipe.

  • The sound of the shepherd's pipe echoed through the hills, guiding the sheep back home.

  • During the festival, a musician played an enchanting tune on his shepherd's pipe, captivating everyone around.

Synonyms

bagpipe
vsshepherd's pipe
23 5.2

A wind instrument with a bag and pipes played by blowing and squeezing

is a general simple traditional wind instrument including small bag or flute types
whistle
vsshepherd's pipe
  • UK
22 2.0

A small simple flute used in folk music

is a broader traditional wind instrument that can be a small bag or simple flute
panpipe
vsshepherd's pipe
1 7.5

A set of tubes of different lengths that you blow across to make music

is a general traditional wind instrument usually a single pipe or small bag type
nose flute
vsshepherd's pipe
1 9.5

A small flute played by blowing air through the nose

is a general traditional wind instrument played by mouth or using a small bag
musette
vsshepherd's pipe
  • Archaic
9.9

A small French bagpipe used in folk music

is a broader traditional simple wind instrument not limited to one regional bagpipe
flageolet
vsshepherd's pipe
  • Archaic
9.9

A small wind instrument like a recorder with finger holes

is a broader traditional wind instrument that also includes small flutes or bag forms
pandean pipe
vsshepherd's pipe
  • Archaic
9.9

A set of pipes of different lengths tied together that you play by blowing across the tops

is a broader traditional wind instrument rather than this specific multi pipe form
treble recorder
vsshepherd's pipe
  • UK
8.1

A medium-sized wind instrument like a flute that plays notes between the tenor and soprano used in groups

is a traditional simple wind instrument used in folk settings rather than formal ensembles
musette pipe
vsshepherd's pipe
9.9

A small wind instrument like a simple oboe used in French folk and classical music

is a general simple wind instrument including flutes or bag types rather than reed oboes
hornpipe
vsshepherd's pipe
  • Archaic
9.9

An old wind instrument made from bone or horn with one reed

is a general traditional wind instrument still in use as small bag or flute types
Western concert flute
vsshepherd's pipe
  • Specialized
4.7

A metal or wooden instrument held sideways and played by blowing across a hole used in orchestras and bands

is a simple traditional wind instrument used in folk contexts rather than modern orchestras

Surface Forms

Morphology

shepherd's + pipe

The phrase denotes a pipe belonging to or used by a shepherd; its meaning is directly built from 'shepherd's' (possessive) + 'pipe' (wind instrument), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a simple instrument played by shepherds. This literal, compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows standard possession/compound patterns, making it immediately comprehensible to B1 learners.

Etymology

Shepherd's pipe comes from the simple picture of a shepherd playing a small pipe or flute to call, calm, or entertain his sheep, and people began to call the instrument the shepherd's pipe. That's why it means 'a simple traditional wind instrument' often played by shepherds.