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fife
(fīf)
noun
a small flute having from six to eight finger holes, and usually no keys, used mainly with drums in playing marches
Origin: Ger pfeife, a pipe, fife < MHG pfife < OHG pfifa < VL *pipa, pipe
Related Forms:
- fifer noun
administrative unit of E Scotland: formerly a county
See fife in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
A small, high-pitched, transverse flute used primarily to accompany drums in a military or marching band.
verb fifed fifed, fif·ing, fifes verb, intransitive To play a fife.
verb, transitive To perform (a piece or tune) on or as if on a fife.
Origin:
Origin: Probably German Pfeife
Origin: , from Middle High German pfīfe
Origin: , from Old High German pfīffa
Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *pīpa
Origin: , from Latin pīpāre, to chirp
.Related Forms:
- fifˈer noun
A region of eastern Scotland between the Firths of Forth and Tay. It was once a Pict kingdom.
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