Fife (?), n. [F. fifre, OHG. pfīfa, LL. pipa pipe, pipare to play on the pipe, fr. L. pipire, pipare, to peep, pip, chirp, as a chiken. See Pipe.] (Mus.) A small shrill pipe, resembling the piccolo flute, used chiefly to accompany the drum in military music.
Fife major(Mil.), a noncommissioned officer who superintends the fifers of a regiment. — Fife rail. (Naut.) (a) A rail about the mast, at the deck, to hold belaying pins, etc. (b) A railing around the break of a poop deck.