
mizzle · /ˈmɪz(ə)l/ · /miz-əl/. noun or verb. A fine rain or drizzle. To disappear suddenly, to vanish. To whine or whimper. The weather-related forms are from Middle English misellen (to drizzle), possibly from, but at least related to, Middle Dutch misel (fog, dew) and Dutch dialect miezelen (to rain gently). Origin of the others is unclear.
“Within a short time there was a fine drizzle, then a mizzle with a cold breeze off the sea.” (Halldór Laxness)
“Where is that fine, free arrogant careless rapture. A cold mizzle of despair settles down on me when I try to think even of a story.” (Sylvia Plath)
“…life is very dreary — managers chisel you, and kings mizzle and ministers fizzle and rich fold economizzle.” (Honoré de Balzac)
“In the distance, dark clouds roiled like a hemorrhage, and the wind was picking up. Rain mizzled the windshield.” (Lorrie Moore)
“She rolled round her face, remained a moment looking deedily aslant at him; then with a slight curl of the lip sprang to her feet, and exclaiming abruptly ‘I must mizzle!’ walked off quickly homeward.” (Thomas Hardy)
“…why He should turn around for the poor, mizzling souls of men that can’t even borrow tools in time to replace the shingles on His church, I don’t know either.” (William Faulkner)
“Pens don’t melt into the air: pens are not in the habit of mizzling away into nothing.” (D. H. Lawrence)