King James Bible Dictionary

A musical instrument, probably composed of a number of pipes, mentioned Daniel 3:5, 7, 10, 15.

In Matthew 9:23, 24, notice is taken of players on the flute, here called "minstrels" (but in R.V. "flute-players").

Flutes were in common use among the ancient Egyptians.

General references
Daniel 3:5; Daniel 3:7; Daniel 3:10; Daniel 3:15
Music, Instruments of

(1 Kings 1:40) (marg., PIPE), A musical instrument mentioned amongst others, (Daniel 3:5,7,10,15) as used at the worship of the golden image which Nebuchadnezzar had set up. It bore a close resemblance to the modern flute, and was made of reeds, of copper, and other material. It was the principal wind-instrument.

FLUTE, noun [Latin flo, flatus, to blow, or Latin fluta, a lamprey, with the same number of holes.]

1. A small wind instrument; a pipe with lateral holes or stops, played by blowing with the mouth, and by stopping and opening the holes with the fingers.

2. A channel in a column or pillar; a perpendicular furrow or cavity, cut along the shaft of a column or pilaster; so called from its resemblance to a flute It is used chiefly in the Ionic order; sometimes in the Composite and Corinthian; rarely in the Doric and Tuscan. It is called also a reed.

3. A long vessel or boat, with flat ribs or floor timbers, round behind, and swelled in the middle; a different orthography of float, flota.

Armed in flute An armed ship, with her guns of the lower tier and part of those of the upper tier removed, used as a transport, is said to be armed in flute

FLUTE, verb intransitive To play on a flute

FLUTE, verb transitive To form flutes or channels in a column.

FLU'TED, participle passive or adjective

1. Channeled; furrowed; as a column.

2. In music, thin; fine; flutelike; as fluted notes.