fizzle

Meanings

1. To sputter or hiss.
2. To decay or die off to nothing; to burn out; to end less successfully than previously hoped.
3. To fail to generate the expected yield when exploded during testing.

1. A spluttering or hissing sound.
2. Failure of an exploding nuclear bomb to meet its expected yield during testing.
3. An abortive effort; a flop or dud.
4. A state of agitation or worry.

Etymology

Attested in English since 1525-35. From earlier fysel (“to fart”). Related to fīsa (“to fart”). Compare with Swedish fisa (“to fart (silently)”). See also feist. It could also come from old Norse: "fise" simply means "blow," like in "blow in the wind." A weather-exposed community in Rogaland, Norway, is called Fister. (In modern language, the verb "fisle" has the same 3 meanings as in English, see below.)