fizzle English · revision 1223

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfɪzəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably an alteration of obsolete ''fist'' “to break wind”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|enm|fisten|t=to break wind]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) with the frequentative suffix [[-le]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Random House instead takes it from earlier ''fysel'', a frequentative of a form akin to [[non|fīsa|t=to break wind]], and relates it to [[feist]].^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To break wind without noise (about 1532).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In 19th-century American college slang the word meant to fail, especially in a recitation or examination (by 1847), and the noun meant such a failure (1846);^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Barnhart notes that these senses are not considered derived from the old verb.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The sense to make a hissing or sputtering sound, as a damp firework does, is recorded from 1859,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the image of a sound that dies away weakly supports the figurative sense of failing after a promising start.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1532 – to break wind quietly.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1598 – noun, the act of breaking wind quietly.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1842 – noun, a hissing or sputtering.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1846 – noun, a failure, in U.S. college slang.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1847 – verb, to fail.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1859 – verb, to hiss or sputter.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make a hissing or sputtering sound, especially one that dies out weakly; to [[fizz]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To fail or end feebly after a hopeful start, often with ''out''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A failure or [[fiasco]]; an abortive effort.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A hissing or sputtering sound.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[nuclear]] explosion that falls short of its expected yield.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fizz]]

+ * [[fizzy]]

+ * [[feisty]]

+ * [[fiasco]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''miscarry'', ''collapse'' and ''founder'' as synonyms of the verb in its sense of failing.^(RHWU) Wiktionary notes that in nuclear testing a ''fizzle'', an explosion with too little yield, is distinguished from a ''dud'', which does not explode at all.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}