fife rail
1Fife rail — Fife Fife (f[imac]f), n. [F. fifre, OHG. pf[=i]fa, 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… …
2fife rail — fife′ rail n. navig. a rail on a sailing vessel where belaying pins are inserted …
3fife rail — n. Naut. an inboard rail with holes for belaying pins …
4fife rail — noun the railing surrounding the mast of a sailing vessel • Hypernyms: ↑railing, ↑rail * * * noun 1. : a railing around the bulwarks of a quarterdeck 2. : a rail about the mast near the deck to which running rigging is belayed * * * Naut. a rail… …
5fife rail — Pin Pin, n. [OE. pinne, AS. pinn a pin, peg; cf. D. pin, G. pinne, Icel. pinni, W. pin, Gael. & Ir. pinne; all fr. L. pinna a pinnacle, pin, feather, perhaps orig. a different word from pinna feather. Cf. {Fin} of a fish, {Pen} a feather.] 1. A… …
6fife rail — Naut. a rail surrounding or next to the mast of a sailing vessel for use in holding the pins to which some of the running rigging is belayed. Cf. pin rail. [1715 25] * * * …
7fife rail — noun Date: circa 1800 a rail about the mast near the deck to which rigging is belayed …
8fife rail — noun chiefly historical a rail round the mainmast of a sailing ship, holding belaying pins. Origin C18: of unknown origin …
9fife rail — /ˈfaɪf reɪl/ (say fuyf rayl) noun a rail round the lower part of a mast of a ship, for holding belaying pins …
10fife-rail — n. Naut. a rail round the mainmast with belaying pins. Etymology: 18th c.: orig. unkn …
