A small, keyless transverse flute used to play military marches and folk tunes, most often with the accompaniment of snare drums and sometimes bass drums. A fife differs from a piccolo in that it has a cylindrical, or straight bore rather than a straight headjoint and a conical bore. This causes the fife to have a more intense and shrill sound than a piccolo. With the exception of some fifes developed in the 20th century, fifes are normally in one piece instead of two and have only six tone holes.
Since the mid 19th century, fifes have been most commonly manufactured in the key of concert Ab above the treble clef, but are named "Bb fifes" for the pitch heard when the lowest D is fingered, the same way recorders and tin whistles are named. The fife can only be played accurately in the keys of D, G, and A major and those relative minors due to the limitations of only six tone holes. Fifers always play music the octave above what is notated to get the instrument's piercing power.
Fife and drum organizations are most common in the Eastern United States and in Switzerland, but are also found in other parts of the world.
Since the mid 19th century, fifes have been most commonly manufactured in the key of concert Ab above the treble clef, but are named "Bb fifes" for the pitch heard when the lowest D is fingered, the same way recorders and tin whistles are named. The fife can only be played accurately in the keys of D, G, and A major and those relative minors due to the limitations of only six tone holes. Fifers always play music the octave above what is notated to get the instrument's piercing power.
Fife and drum organizations are most common in the Eastern United States and in Switzerland, but are also found in other parts of the world.
by ironmatic1 November 6, 2020
Get the Fifemug. Fife is literally the best person you could ever have the opportunity of meeting in your meaningless lives. If you have the opportunity to ever be graced by the presence of Fife you should bow the fuck down because you just passed by the literal fucking God of gods. Be thankful.
by Iamnotfifa September 15, 2022
Get the Fifemug. 
To wear one's pants up way too high
Applies mostly to guys. Similar to butterface in terms of definition.
Applies mostly to guys. Similar to butterface in terms of definition.
by 4realazitgits May 5, 2021
Get the Barney Fifedmug. A fife is
Interested in anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics. While being big into the Polandball community.
Interested in anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics. While being big into the Polandball community.
by Dalaaaj_Aycher November 22, 2020
Get the Fifemug. The word that a bastard keeps on writing when he or she is cyberstalking you. They mean the f-word. They mean “screw you.” They (the cyberstalker) means that they are having a mentally deranged sick kind of so called “fun” screwing up your life. The cyberstalker pops in to your emails, anything government that he or she can get their evil hands on, and they fife (screw) up your reputation, your life, your health, and your children’s lives demanding pure and absolute unKosher torture in every direction by twisting words. Fife does not really mean “flute” in America anymore. Actually fife never meant flute in America. The word for “flute” in America is flute. If someone is calling you or your work a “fife” in America, it usually means they don’t like you and they want to destroy your work, your career, and your life. Sometimes it is Canadian people, and sometimes it’s American people using “fife” in a derogatory way.
The lawyer is a fife.
by Reneajustine February 16, 2022
Get the Fifemug. A land in which the fairy pigs also known as the shittiest police force in existence is, marked by the extremely high level of dope fiends and meth heads that run around toothless hooping and hollering all night, you can spot the infamous howling gorilla from the upper tiers of the travelodge castle. And gaze upon the drooling red eyed succubus stripper, hooker, googly monster who stomps around in her loud ass clogs all night up and down the strip a block from pigland, aka the police station. If youre lucky enough and get a room at the Travelodge Fife crack castle you may be unfortunate enough to hear the always heard but never seen Crackfoot stomping above your head as it dances around its bed in the center of the room while the smiling meth demons look on, be careful walking on the ground made of syringes and meth baggies, and beware of the 12 year old with the tech 9 and no sense, because one thing is for sure the fairy pigs don't care they're busy tending the fat ass worthless fuck flavored donut fields. You can find Fife located on the large hunk of mold called Washington state just follow the Aroma of Tacoma and you'll know you're on the right track.
I am going to be going to a party at the Tacoma Dome, I think I'll stay at the Travelodge Crack Castle In Fife.
by Sockrates March 13, 2017
Get the Fifemug.