fife
noun
a high-pitched transverse flute used commonly in military and marching musical groups.
fifing
-
present participleof fife.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The city fathers have decked out some of Boston's sons in Revolutionary costumes and sent them roaming through the streets fifing and drumming.
From Time Magazine Archive
Youths and maidens, garlanded and gayly raimented, go about fifing and piping, and trolling the chosen songs of spring.
From The God of Love by Justin H. (Justin Huntly) McCarthy
In these drumming and fifing times the babies suck in quarrel with their mother's milk.
From Horse-Shoe Robinson A Tale of the Tory Ascendency by John Pendleton Kennedy
"Agreed; hang by 'em, give 'em a blast, first opening, and while you are fifing away for me, I'll go around for you, Captain Johns."
From The Humors of Falconbridge A Collection of Humorous and Every Day Scenes by Falconbridge
I had ample opportunity for noticing this, the commander sending me on another errand down to the scene of operations almost as soon as the drumming and fifing began.
From Crown and Anchor Under the Pen'ant by John B. Greene
