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piffero

fife

noun PEEF-feh-roh Rare

Origin: From German Pfeife ('pipe, whistle'), entering Italian in the medieval period.

Usage Note

Piffero is a small flute-like wind instrument, associated with folk and military music. Colloquially, the phrase un piffero! is used as a blunt refusal meaning 'not a chance!' or 'no way!' — a useful idiomatic expression to know. The plural is pifferi.

Examples

"Il suonatore soffiava nel piffero."

Natural Translation

The musician blew into the fife.

Literal Translation

The player blew in-the fife.

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