▪ I. mizzling, vbl. n.
(ˈmɪzlɪŋ)
[f. mizzle v.1 + -ing1.]
The action of mizzle v.1; the falling of very fine rain; † fine rain or drizzle. Also fig.
| 1483 Cath. Angl. 241/2 A Miselynge (A. Myssyllynge), nimbus. 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 698 Of Pliades he prechid with ther drowsy chere, Immoysturid with mislyng and ay droppyng dry. 1530 Tindale Deut. xxxii. 2 My speach flowe as doeth the dewe, as the mesellynge vpon the herbes. 1572 L. Mascall Plant. & Graff. (1592) 7 They..doe put their fruite gathered, into the middest of their Garden, in the raine & mislings, vppon the bare earth. 1656 Stanley Hist. Philos. vi. (1687) 378/2 They [sc. clouds] are condensed..into drops of water, which if they come down very small, are called misling; if greater, rain. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. ii. 73 In the Evening we had a shower of rain..which was the first, save onely a little mizling, that we had seen fall since our departure from Aleppo. 1725 Bradley Fam. Dict., Mizzling; the falling of very small Rain, after a Fog in Winter or at some other Times. 1843 Thoreau Let. 8 June in Atlantic Monthly (1892) May 588, I must wait for a shower of shillings, or at least a slight dew or mizzling of sixpences, before I explore New York very far. |
▪ II. mizzling, ppl. a.
(ˈmɪzlɪŋ)
[f. mizzle v.1 + -ing2.]
That mizzles: a. of rain or the like.
| 1535 Coverdale Isa. xviii. 4 There fel a myslinge shower, like a dew. 1655 R. Davenport K. John & Matilda v. i. I 4 b, These [eyes] sheed..misling showers. 1733 Arbuthnot Ess. Effects Air iv. 87 The Air..feels more moist when the Water is..in meazling and soaking Rains, than in great Showers. 1827 Sporting Mag. XX. 397 Tuesday morning came in with a nasty mistling rain. 1866 Mrs. H. Wood St. Martin's Eve xxviii, A slow, mizzling rain was falling. |
b. of a day, weather, etc.
| 1641 Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 44 If the morninge bee wette and mislinge. 1697 Phil. Trans. XIX. 745 Wet and Mistling Weather. 1714 Gay Sheph. Week Tues. 55 In misling days..With nappy beer I to the barn repair'd. a 1845 Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. iii. My Letters, Another mizzling, drizzling, day! |
† c. fig.
| 1608 Chapman Byron Plays (Pearson) II. 269 The misling breath of policie. |