Parts of a Bagpipe:

1 Altan-gleusaidh, tuning-slides.

2 Bann, ferrule.

3 Cìochag, valve.

4 Cupan, cup inside ferrule at top of drones.

5 Dos, pl. -an, drone.

6 Feadan, Seannsair, chanter.

7 Gaothaiche, mouth-piece.

8 Màla, bag.

9 Ribheid, reed.

10 Sumair, drone.

11 Sionnach, bellows in an Irish bagpipe.

12 Stoc, stock, that part of each of the five pipes to which the bag is tied. Stoc an fheadain, the chanter-stock; stoc an dos mhóir, the big drone-stock &c.

13 Bonn an fheadain, sole of chanter.

The bagpipes are spoken of in Gaelic in the singular — a' phìob. The use of the bagpipe can be traced to the most remote antiquity, although it seems, if not comparatively modern in connection with the Highlands, at least to have held a second place in comparison with the harp in the estimation of the bulk of the people, until during the last few centuries. The Greek word sumphōnía, which appears as an Aramaic loan-word in Daniel, iii, 5, is translated “bagpipe” by every competent translator. There is no doubt that the verse relating the arrival of the prodigal son's brother in the New Testament, should be rendered “now his elder son was in the field and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard bagpipes and dancing” — Expository Times, Jan. 1905.