fife Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a small high-pitched flute similar to a piccolo; has a shrill tone and is used chiefly to accompany drums in a marching band

WordNet

Fife noun
Etymology
F. fifre, OHG. pfifa, LL. pipa pipe, pipare to play on the pipe, fr. L. pipire, pipare, to peep, pip, chirp, as a chiken. See Pipe.
Definitions
  1. (Mus.) A small shrill pipe, resembling the piccolo flute, used chiefly to accompany the drum in military music.
Fife intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Fifed ; present participle & verbal noun fifing
Definitions
  1. To play on a fife.

Webster 1913