n. A hissing sound; as, the fizz of a fly. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. fizzed p. pr. & vb. n. fizzing. ] [ Cf. Icel. fīsa to break wind, Dan. fise to foist, fizzle, OSw. fisa, G. fisten, feisten. Cf. Foist. ] To make a hissing sound, such as that of a burning fuse or a bubbling carbonated beverage. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. fizzled p. pr. & vb. n. fizzling ] [ See Fizz. ] 1. To make a hissing sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is the easiest thing, sir, to be done,
As plain as fizzling. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make a ridiculous failure in an undertaking, especially after a good start; to achieve nothing. [ Colloq. or Low ] [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

A four-day rally in stocks fizzled yesterday amid renewed fears that strong economic growth may prompt the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates. Sharon R. King (N. Y. Times, May 6, 1998). [ PJC ]

To fizzle out, to burn with a hissing noise and then go out, like wet gunpowder; hence: to fail completely and ridiculously; to prove a failure. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A failure or abortive effort; a fiasco. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Hissing and bubbling, like a carbonated beverage. [ WordNet 1.5 ]