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sissen

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Etymology and origin of the Dutch word sissen

Confidence
Established
Formation
Onomatopoeia
First attested
1437 Middle Dutch More words from the 15th century
From
Middle Dutch sissen

Pronunciation

  • /ˈsɪ.sə(n)/[1]

Forms

sissen[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch sissen (also cissen), an imitative word.[2][3][4] Similar words are Middle Low German sissen (also tzissen), German zischen and English siss, beside Old High German zispan and Middle High German zispen.[2][5][6] The ANW relates it to the interjection sis.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record, of 1437, compares people to a child that dares not pass the geese, wantse cissen ende blasen, “for they hiss and blow”.[8][2]

Semantic evolution

In the 17th century the verb was used of a snake (1640) and, in poetry, of spurting blood (1625); a text of 1688 has it for calling by hissing.[4] Water boiling up on a fire hisses in 1727, a flying bullet in 1810, and people hiss words through their teeth from 1806.[4] Indigo dyers used sissen of a certain foam forming (1788), perhaps the same word.[4] Van der Sijs records loans in German dialect, for the sound of fire, and in Javanese ses.[9]

Timeline

  • 1437 – Middle Dutch cissen is used of geese hissing.[8][2][10]
  • 1625 – It is used of spurting blood.[4]
  • 1640 – It is used of a snake.[4]
  • 1727 – It is used of water boiling over a fire.[4]
  • 1806 – It is used of people hissing words.[4]
  • 1810 – A passing bullet hisses.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To hiss: to make a sharp sound by forcing air through a narrow opening.[11][4][1]
  2. To sizzle, of liquid on fire or of something hot put in water.[4][12][1]
  3. To hiss, of a snake or a cat.[12][4]
  4. (figurative) To hiss in disapproval.[1]
  5. To say something in a hissing voice.[11][4]

Word family

  • sisverbod
  • gesis
  • sisklank
  • sisser
  • German zischen
  • English siss

Usage notes

De Vries & De Tollenaere date the verb to a Limburg glossary of about 1240, but the MNW reads that tcissen as a gloss of Latin cessare, that is, cessen “to cease”, a borrowing from French.[6][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
  3. ^ Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
  5. ^ Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ a b Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum, p. 339
  7. ^ Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; anw.ivdnt.org
  8. ^ a b c Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
  9. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
  10. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  11. ^ a b Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  12. ^ a b WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org
Cite this entry

“Sissen.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/nl/sissen. Accessed 16 Nov. 2026.

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