/puy"peuhr/ , n.
1. a person who plays on a pipe.
2. a bagpiper.
3. pay the piper ,
a. to pay the cost of something.
b. to bear the unfavorable consequences of one's actions or pleasures: Someday he'll have to pay the piper for all that gambling.
[ bef. 1000; ME; OE pipere. See PIPE 1 , -ER 1 ]