Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sizzle” come from?

Sizzle comes from Middle English sissen, from Middle Dutch cissen, of uncertain ultimate origin.

sizzle (English): To make the sound of water hitting a hot surface;...

Definitions

  1. To make the sound of water hitting a hot surface;...

Ancestry of “sizzle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsissento hiss; buzz; hum
2Middle Dutchcissen—

Words derived from “sizzle”

  • sizzling
  • sizzler
  • sizzly
  • sizzlingly
  • sausage sizzle
Every word from Middle Dutch cissen →