IPA: /ˈfaɪfər/
KK: /ˈfaɪfər/
A person who plays a small, high-pitched wind instrument called a fife, often used in military bands and marching music.
The fifer led the parade with lively tunes that energized the crowd.
Fifer originates from the word 'fife' (from Middle English *fif*, meaning a small flute) combined with '-er' (meaning a person who). A fifer is a person who plays the fife, a type of small wind instrument.
Think of someone who plays a small flute ('fife') — the '-er' just means a person. A fifer is someone who plays the fife.