Zamponi

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A musical instrument of Andean origin consisting of a series of pipes of varying lengths bound together and played by blowing across the open ends ; a traditional folk wind instrument typically used in South American music and ceremonies ; a panpipe-like instrument made up of multiple tubes closed at one end and arranged in a row, producing distinct notes when blown into
2. An ancient wind instrument composed of joined hollow tubes of different sizes that create melodic sounds when air is blown into them ; a cultural pipe instrument made from reeds or wood for producing harmonic scales in Andean music ; a set of pipes tied together with finger holes or open ends used to play native folk tunes in highland regions
3. A cluster of tuned tubes bound side by side and played by air blown across their openings to produce scale notes ; a traditional indigenous wind instrument commonly found in the Andes that resembles a pan flute ; an aerophone used in folk music, made by assembling pipes of graduated lengths to form a melodic instrument played by breath control

Etymology: "Zamponi" is the plural of "zampone," an Italian sausage that English borrowed directly from Italian. The Italian noun is built from "zampa," meaning "paw" or "leg," plus the augmentative suffix "-one," so the name amounts to something like "big paw." The Andean pan flute is a different word, "zampoña," which comes from Spanish, so anyone searching for the instrument should use that spelling.

Synonyms: zampogna, Italian bagpipe