fife

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a small, high-pitched transverse flute, traditionally played with drums in military music

   A fife sounded above the drums as the regiment entered the square.

2. 2
   verb

   to play a fife

   Two musicians fifed while the drummer kept the marching cadence.

3. 3
   num

   the pronunciation word used for five in some radio communication systems to prevent confusion

   The controller instructed the pilot to turn to heading two fife zero.

Borrowed in the sixteenth century from German Pfeife, 'pipe or fife,' perhaps through French fifre, from Old High German pfifa. The Germanic forms ultimately reflect Vulgar Latin pipa, 'pipe,' an imitative word. This musical noun is unrelated to the Scottish place name Fife.

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