mizzle

¹

[ miz-uhl ]

verb (used with or without object)

, miz·zled, miz·zling.

1. to rain in fine drops; drizzle; mist.

noun

1. mist or drizzle.

mizzle

²

[ miz-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, British Slang.

, miz·zled, miz·zling.

1. to disappear or leave suddenly.

mizzle

³

[ miz-uhl ]

verb (used with object)

, South Midland and Southern U.S.

, miz·zled, miz·zling.

1. to confuse; muddle.

mizzle

¹

/ ˈmɪzəl /

verb

1. slang.
   intr to decamp

mizzle

²

/ ˈmɪzəl /

verb

1. a dialect word for drizzle

Derived Forms

• ˈmizzly, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mizzle¹

First recorded in 1475–85; late Middle English missellen, missill; cognate with Dutch (dialect) mizzelen, Low German miseln “to drizzle”; akin to Middle Dutch misel “mist, dew”; -le

Origin of mizzle²

First recorded in 1775–85; origin uncertain

Origin of mizzle³

First recorded in 1575–85; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of mizzle¹

C18: of unknown origin

Origin of mizzle²

C15: perhaps from Low German miseln to drizzle; compare Dutch dialect miezelen to drizzle

Example Sentences

The murk and mizzle kept the players off for almost three hours, though the break did little to stall England's momentum.

From BBC

A coalition of advocacy groups behind the blimp took reporters and photographers out on a morning cruise in the mist and drizzle — known in Cornwall as “mizzle” — to see its launch off the coast of a Cornish fishing port where the world’s news media is encamped to cover the summit.

From New York Times

The location has been changed due to weather, the official said, after rainy mist - known as "mizzle" by locals - enveloped the sandy beaches and ragged coastline of the southern English county of Cornwall.

From Reuters

“Mizzle” and “dibble” and “smirr” and all those other regional words for precipitation have a gloriously humdrum quality.

From New York Times

Surfboard Yellow, Gentleman’s Gray, Mizzle: How do paint companies name their hues?

From Washington Post

Related Words

• dribble
• spray
• sprinkle