zizzinghttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zizzing_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezizzing, n.
Revised 2021

zizzingnoun

  1. 1.
    1884–
    A buzzing or whizzing sound; movement or activity accompanied by such a sound. Also figurative.
    1. 1884
      But the zizzing soon settled down, and when the popular champagne was placed to the lips of the plumed knight again, it was found to be stale and flat.
      Atlanta (Georgia) Constitution 17 July 1/1
    2. 1951
      The flies on the window-pane woke up and started to rage together with a venomous zizzing.
      J. Strachey, Man on Pier 37
    3. 2001
      The zizzing of sewing ceased as 100 workers herded toward a cabinet to retrieve lunch sacks.
      Daily News (New York) (Nexis) 8 July 6
  2. 2.
    1942–
    colloquial (chiefly British). The action of having a short sleep or nap; sleeping. Cf. zizz v. 2.
    1. 1942
      Sleeping is ‘zizzing’ whether it's on the job or in the hammock.
      Gen 1 September 13/1
    2. 1987
      You can also..fit in a fair amount of staring out the window thinking about nothing in particular, zizzing, and, at peak rush-hour periods, unarmed combat.
      Punch 11 March 70/2

Originally published as part of the entry for zizz, v.

zizzing, n. was revised in March 2021.

zizzing, n. was last modified in July 2023.