The wail of a bagpipe is unmistakable, and now you know the word for that distinctive sound: “skirl.” It can be used as both a noun and a verb, for both the shrill, wailing sound of the bagpipes, and the action of making that sound. While bagpipes are commonly thought of as a Scottish instrument, and “skirl” did enter Middle English through the Scots language, the origin of the word is actually Scandinavian. It’s believed to come from the Old Swedish “skrælla,” which means “to rattle, bang.” While the primary application of “skirl” is related to bagpipes, the word can apply to any shrill, wailing sound, such as a baby’s cry, or wind whistling through a crack.