Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “pipes” come from?

Pipes derives from Middle English pipe, from Old English pīpe, from Proto-Germanic *pīpǭ, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peip-, meaning to pipe or chirp.

pipes (English): plural of pipe; A single pipe organ; One's vocal...

Definitions

  1. plural of pipe; A single pipe organ; One's vocal...

Ancestry of “pipes”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpipeMeanings relating to a wind instrument; Meanings...
2Middle Englishpīpe—
3Middle EnglishpipenTo use a pipe or similar musical instrument; to...
4Old Englishpīpianto pipe
5Proto-West Germanicpīpanto peep, to chirp, to squeak
6Proto-GermanicpīpanąTo chirp or pipe like a bird or rodent; To talk...
7LatinpipoI pip, peep

Words derived from “pipes”

  • panpipes
  • pan pipes
  • panpiping
Every word from Latin pipo →