knistern

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.

• IPA^(key): /ˈknɪstɐn/

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knistern (weak, third-person singular present knistert, past tense knisterte, past participle geknistert, auxiliary haben)

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, pages 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.

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• Knistern

• → Dutch: knisteren

• “knistern” in Duden online
• “knistern” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache