Fife

fīf, n. a smaller variety of the flute, usually with only one key.— v.i. to play on the fife.— ns. Fife′-mā′jor ( obs. ), the chief fifer in a regiment; Fif′er , one who plays on a fife; Fife′-rail , the rail round the mainmast for belaying-pins. [Fr. fifre , Ger. pfeife , both, acc. to Littré, from L. pipāre , to chirp.]