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Webster 1913 Edition

Fife

Fife

(fīf)
,
Noun.
[F.
fifre
, OHG.
pfīfa
, LL.
pipa
pipe,
pipare
to play on the pipe, fr. L.
pipire
,
pipare
, to peep, pip, chirp, as a chiken. See
Pipe
.]
(Mus.)
A small shrill pipe, resembling the piccolo flute, used chiefly to accompany the drum in military music.
Fife major
(Mil.)
,
a noncommissioned officer who superintends the fifers of a regiment.
–
Fife rail
.
(Naut.)
(a)
A rail about the mast, at the deck, to hold belaying pins, etc.
(b)
A railing around the break of a poop deck.

Fife

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Fifed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
fifing
.]
To play on a fife.

Webster 1828 Edition

Fife

FIFE

,
Noun.
[L. pipio, to pip or peep, as a chicken. The word may have received its name from a hollow stalk, or from its sound.]
A small pipe, used as a wind instrument, chiefly in martial music with drums.

FIFE

,
Verb.
T.
To play on a fife.

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