misfire

Word Origin & History

1752, of a gun, 1905, of an internal combustion engine; see mis- (1) + fire (v.). Related: Misfired; misfiring. The noun is attested from 1839.

The unexpectedness of this misfire positively overcame his faculties.

He tried again, in case it was just a misfire, but there was still only the click.

"Misfire threw him off," exclaimed the spectators afterward.

Simultaneously one cylinder starts to misfire, and then another.

From the position of the check-lever you realise that there has been a misfire.

Very cheap; safe after misfire because oxygen evaporates off.

First hardly hurt me at all, and the second one was quite a misfire.

If it has one misfire in every twenty shots, or so, it does not matter, the great thing being to have it cock easily.

Matt's hopes were dashed somewhat by sounds which told him Chub's machine was beginning to misfire.

As if the troubles Matt had had were not enough, on the road toward the river the motor began to misfire.

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verb fail

verb. collapse, fall through

noun. momentary success

verb. fail miserably

verb. fail miserably

verb. fail miserably

verb. go under, fail