fif

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who plays on a fife. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ acronym, First In First Out. ] 1. (accounting) an accounting method in which goods in inventory are valued at the price of the most recent acquisition of each type of goods, and those used up from inventory are valued at the cost of those first acquired. [ PJC ]

a. [ OE. fiftene, AS. fīft&ymacr_;ne, fīftēne. See Five, and Ten, and cf. Fifty. ] Five and ten; one more than fourteen. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The sum of five and ten; fifteen units or objects. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A symbol representing fifteen units, as 15, or xv. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One of fifteen equal parts or divisions; the quotient of a unit divided by fifteen. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A species of tax upon personal property formerly laid on towns, boroughs, etc., in England, being one fifteenth part of what the personal property in each town, etc., had been valued at. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mus.) (a) A stop in an organ tuned two octaves above the diaposon. (b) An interval consisting of two octaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. fiftenthe; cf. fiftethe, AS. fīfteōða. See Fifteen. ] 1. Next in order after the fourteenth; -- the ordinal of fifteen. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Consisting of one of fifteen equal parts or divisions of a thing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. fifte, fifthe, AS. fīfta. See Five. ] 1. Next in order after the fourth; -- the ordinal of five. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Consisting of one of five equal divisions of a thing. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fifth monarchy men (Hist.), a fanatical sect in England, of the time of the commonwealth, who maintained that there would be a fifth universal monarchy, during which Christ would reign on earth a thousand years. --
Fifth wheel, a horizontal wheel or segment above the fore axle of a carriage and beneath the body, forming an extended support to prevent careening. [ 1913 Webster ]