German

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Borrowed from East Central German and Low German fi(e)sseln, probably ultimately of imitative origin. Related with Middle High German visel (fibre, thin thread), itself possibly related with German Faser (fibre).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈfɪzəln/, [ˈfɪzəln], [ˈfɪzl̩n]
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

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fisseln (weak, third-person singular present fisselt, past tense fisselte, past participle gefisselt, auxiliary haben)

  1. (chiefly impersonal) to drizzle or flurry: to rain or snow lightly

Usage notes

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  • Used impersonally with es in the same way as in English ‘it rains’. Other forms are rare or nonexistent.

Conjugation

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Further reading

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  • fisseln” in Duden online
  • fisseln” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache