sizz, v.
(sɪz)
Also 8 siz. Chiefly dial. or U.S.
[Imitative: cf. siss v., and WFris. size, siizje.]
† 1. trans. To burn, brand. Obs.—1
| a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew s.v. Neck-verse, The Women are of course sizz'd in the Fist, without running the risque of a Halter. |
2. intr. To give out a hissing sound; to hiss, sizzle. Also fig.
| 1788 W. H. Marshall Yorksh. II. 352 To Siz, to hiss. 1861 Mrs. Chesnut Diary fr. Dixie 27 June, If, when water is thrown on them, they do not sizz, they won't do. 1887 The Voice (N.Y.) 1 Sept., Touch any one of the 900 delegates..and he (or she) will sizz. |
Hence ˈsizzing vbl. n. Also attrib.
| 1890 Nature 16 Oct. 595 Mention has been made..of a peculiar ‘singing’ or rather ‘sizzing’ noise on the wire. 1907 Scribner's Mag. Feb. 145 The monotonous sizzing of cicadas. |