fife

[ fahyf ]
See synonyms for fife on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a high-pitched transverse flute used commonly in military and marching musical groups.

verb (used with or without object),fifed, fif·ing.
  1. to play on a fife.

Origin of fife

1
1540–50; <German Pfeifepipe1

Other words from fife

  • fifer, noun

Words Nearby fife

Other definitions for Fife (2 of 2)

Fife
[ fahyf ]

noun
  1. Also called Fife·shire [fahyf-sheer, -sher]. /ˈfaɪf ʃɪər, -ʃər/. a historic county in E Scotland.

  2. a region in E Scotland. 504 sq. mi. (1,305 sq. km).

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use fife in a sentence

  • The whole episode contrasts markedly with the exploit of Bishop Sinclair in fife.

    King Robert the Bruce | A. F. Murison
  • As an example of how political conflicts ought to be carried on take the case of West fife.

  • In 1885 the club had their present vessel, the 'Ailsa,' 66 tons, built by fife of Fairlie; and who better could have been chosen?

    Yachting Vol. 2 | Various.
  • A roll of a drum and the skirl of a fife came wafting across the valley on the April breeze.

    Private Peat | Harold R. Peat
  • His fife it was that inspired the weary Deerfield minute-men to press on to Boston to meet the British.

    The Old Furniture Book | N. Hudson Moore

British Dictionary definitions for fife (1 of 3)

fife

/ (faɪf) /


noun
  1. a small high-pitched flute similar to the piccolo and usually having no keys, used esp in military bands

verb
  1. to play (music) on a fife

Origin of fife

1
C16: from Old High German pfīfa; see pipe 1

Derived forms of fife

  • fifer, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Fife (2 of 3)

Fife1

/ (faɪf) /


noun
  1. a council area and historical county of E central Scotland, bordering on the North Sea between the Firths of Tay and Forth: coastal lowlands in the north and east, with several ranges of hills; mainly agricultural. Administrative centre: Glenrothes. Pop: 352 040 (2003 est). Area: 1323 sq km (511 sq miles)

British Dictionary definitions for Fife (3 of 3)

Fife2

/ (faɪf) /


noun
  1. Duncan: See Duncan Phyfe

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for fife

fife

A small flute with a high, piercing tone, used mainly in military bands.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.