Fife Meaning
/ˈfaɪf/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA small shrill pipe, resembling the piccolo flute, used chiefly to accompany the drum in military music
verbTo play this instrument.
Sentence Examples
The boy played a lively tune on his fife.
The fife section marched in the parade.
He played a traditional tune on his wooden fife.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The marching band's drummer kept the rhythm while the ____ player carried the melody.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In the historical parade, the musician played a high-pitched tune on a wooden ____ while marching.
Word Origin & History
From German Pfeife (“whistle, smoking pipe”). Doublet of pipe.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"“Change course to two fife zero and reduce height to fifteen hundred feet.” That “fife,” thought Alan, sounded very affected; but it had a good survival value in a noisy background."
— 1963, Arthur C Clarke, chapter 6, in Glidepath, New York: Simon and Schuster, page 66:
"Ross: Will you to Scone?
Macduff: No, cousin, I'll to Fife."
— c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv], line 993:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The marching band's drummer kept the rhythm while the ____ player carried the melody.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In the historical parade, the musician played a high-pitched tune on a wooden ____ while marching.