Bagpipes

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Oh, Danny Boy...

I understand the inventor of the bagpipes was inspired when he saw a man carrying an indignant, asthmatic pig under his arm. Unfortunately, the manmade sound never equaled the purity of the sound achieved by the pig.

Alfred Hitchcock.

Some men there are love not a gaping pig;
Some, that are mad if they behold a cat;
And others, when the bagpipe sings i' the nose,
Cannot contair their urine: for affection,
Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood
Of what it likes, or loathes. Now, for your answer:
As there is no firm reason to be render'd,
Why he cannot abide a gaping pig;
Why he, a harmless necessary cat;
Why he, a woollen bagpipe; but of force

Must yield to such inevitable shame
As to offend, himself being offended;

Shylock, "The merchant of Venice", Act IV, Scene 1.

(Shakespeare presumably knew that bagpipes are not made out of wool - the phrase 'woollen bagpipe' derives from 'uilleann' pipes, 'uilleann' being the gaelic word for 'elbow')

It is. Very descriptive. :-)

I like dudelsack. That's a great bagpipe word if ever there was.

Wow! Who knew?