knistern

See also: Knistern

German

Etymology

From Middle Low German knisteren, gnisteren. Also a Central German and Dutch word; compare Middle Dutch gnisteren (but modern Dutch knisteren probably from German). Eventually onomatopoeic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈknɪstɐn/

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

1. to sizzle; to crackle; to creak; chiefly referring to the sound of fire, or of paper, aluminium, etc., being crumpled
   • 1931, Arthur Schnitzler, Flucht in die Finsternis, S. Fischer Verlag, page 158–159:

     Als in dem grünlichen Kachelofen nach einiger Zeit die Holzscheite zu glimmen und zu knistern begannen, setzte er sich, noch immer im Pelz, auf den schwarzen, ans Bett gerückten breitlehnigen Lederstuhl.

     When after some time the logs in the greenish tiled stove started glowing and crackling, he sat down, still in the fur, on the black leather chair, which was moved next to the bed.

Derived terms

• Knistern

Descendants

• → Dutch: knisteren

Further reading

• “knistern” in Duden online