Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A metal tube in which a flow of gas is mixed with a controlled flow of air to concentrate the heat of a flame, used especially in the identification of minerals.
  • noun A long, narrow iron pipe used to gather, work, and blow molten glass.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An instrument by which a current of air or gas is driven through the flame of a lamp, candle, or gas-jet, to direct the flame upon a substance, in order to fuse it, an intense heat being created by the rapid supply of oxygen and the concentration of the flame upon a small area.
  • noun Same as blow-gun.
  • Relating in any way to a blowpipe, or to blowpiping: as, blowpipe analysis.
  • noun A blast-pipe or blower-pipe; hence the steam-pipe for a steam-blast.
  • To use the blowpipe; conduct chemical experiments or perform mechanical operations by means of the blowpipe.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A tube for directing a jet of air into a fire or into the flame of a lamp or candle, so as to concentrate the heat on some object.
  • noun A blowgun; a blowtube.
  • noun (Chem.) analysis by means of the blowpipe.
  • noun (Chem.) the characteristic behavior of a substance subjected to a test by means of the blowpipe.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun chemistry a narrow tube through which a jet of air is directed onto a flame; used in the analysis of minerals etc and in jewelry manufacture
  • noun a weapon through which darts may be shot by blowing; a blowgun
  • noun glassblowing a long narrow pipe, rotated in the hands, upon which glassware is blown

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a tube that directs air or gas into a flame to concentrate heat
  • noun a tube through which darts can be shot by blowing

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Finally the oxyhydrogen blowpipe, which is indispensable for the treatment of very refractory metals, consumes large quantities of hydrogen and oxygen.

    Scientific American Supplement No. 819, September 12, 1891 Various

  • With the ordinary pressure of city gas upon this pipe it was found that the air pump must keep an air pressure of 40 pounds, that the air and gas might mix properly at the branch or fork, so we could get the best combustion and most heat from our "blowpipe," for such it was.

    Scientific American Supplement, No. 623, December 10, 1887 Various

  • Ah, the blowpipe is a wonderful instrument; it will serve to kill anything, from a big tapir or a fierce jaguar or puma, down to the smallest manakin or humming-bird. "

    The Wanderers Adventures in the Wilds of Trinidad and Orinoco William Henry Giles Kingston 1847

  • 1989 - A South African diplomat, believed to ba a national intelligence agent, an American and two Ulster loyalists, are apprehended by police in Paris while conducting an arms deal involving stolen British "blowpipe" missiles.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1997

  • "blowpipe" weapons to a SA diplomat in France, three SA diplomats leave France before a deadline set by the French Government.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1997

  • 1989 - A South African diplomat, believed to ba a national intelligence agent, an American and two Ulster loyalists, are apprehended by police in Paris while conducting an arms deal involving stolen British "blowpipe" missiles.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1995

  • "blowpipe" weapons to a SA diplomat in France, three SA diplomats leave France before a deadline set by the French Government.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1995

  • President P W Botha to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher over the "blowpipe" affair ", three SA Embassy staff are ordered to leave Britain within seven days.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1997

  • Botha to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher over the "blowpipe" affair ", three SA Embassy staff are ordered to leave

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1995

  • Botha to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher over the "blowpipe" affair ", three SA Embassy staff are ordered to leave

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1995

Comments

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  • In glassmaking, an iron or steel tube, usually 4 to 5 feet long, for blowing glass. Blowpipes have a mouthpiece at one end and are usually fitted at the other end with a metal ring that helps to retain the gather.

    November 9, 2007