Middle English Dictionary Entry

pīpe n.(1)
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Entry Info

Forms pīpe n.(1) Also pip & (in place names) pippe, peppe, pipa; pl. pipes, etc. & pipen.
Etymology OE pīpe, from L.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) A tube or hollow cylinder employed as a receptacle or passage for liquid, smoke, etc.; the nozzle of a bellows; flue of a chimney; beli ~, the nozzle of a bellows; (b) a water pipe, conduit, gutter; conduit ~; (c) a hollow cylinder used as a passage for a rope or cord; a tubular part of a harness through which a trace was passed.
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2.
(a) A tube, duct or vessel of the human body; the urethra of the male; ~ of the yerde; pipes of the emoroides, hemorrhoidal veins; pipes of the nose-thirles, the nasal passages; the gret ~, the esophagus, ?the windpipe; (b) one of the various tubular segments of the respiratory system: trachea, bronchial tubes and their ramifications; the lungs; ~ of the longes; (c) a sheath of an artery; (d) a tube or duct forming part of the anatomy of an animal; the proboscis of an insect.
Show 27 Quotations
3.
Mus. (a) A kind of wind instrument; pipe, flute; -- also, coll.; (b) double pipes, a double pipe, a flute consisting of two tubular segments joined in a single mouthpiece, a kind of syrinx or Panpipe; pepes seven, a Panpipe; (c) ?a shawm; (d) a bagpipe; (e) an organ pipe; ~ of organes; organe pipes; (f) a pipe of a bagpipe or similar instrument; (g) in proverbs; (h) ?a piper; (i) ?as adj.: suitable for making pipes.
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4.
Med. & surg. (a) A tube used to inject medicinal preparations into the body and to draw out infected matter; clister ~, a device for injecting a clyster or enema; (b) a tube for administering smoke to an affected tooth or ear; (c) a tube through which a cauterizing instrument was passed, used to protect the surrounding flesh; (d) a hollow device used in suturing wounds; (e) a stick or cylinder which, inserted and wound in cords, was used to apply traction and in splinting broken limbs; (f) misc. a device for applying suction; a pipe used to handle and apply leeches.
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5.
An account of a sheriff or other accounting officer as drawn up by the office of the Exchequer; one of the membranes of a pipe roll; also, the department of the Exchequer responsible for drawing up and preserving the pipe rolls.
Show 8 Quotations
6.
Misc. (a) One of several tubular sections used to form a frame or support for a banner or a cross; (b) the socket of an arrowhead into which the shaft is inserted; (c) a wire of precious metal used to ornament metalwork; (d) gold ~, ~ of gold, a gold thread or wire used to decorate a woman's hair; (e) error for pie n.(1).
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7.
In cpds. & cmbs.: ~ lok, a kind of door lock or latch; ~ water, water channeled through a pipe or conduit; ~ wei, a passage in the form of a tube, the trachea; ~ maker, a maker of flutes.
Show 5 Quotations
8.
(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.65].
Show 14 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.23va (2.1) : Arteries ar certeyn veynes by which þe hert is tyede and knyt to þe lunges and draweþ to him eyre by þe pipes of þe lunges.
Note: Additional quot., sense 2.(b).

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. pipe.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 2.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. pipe of the nosethirl.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 2.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. pipe of lungs.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 2.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. pipe of the lungs.

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