A spluttering or hissing sound.

(military) Failure of an exploding nuclear bomb to meet its expected yield during testing.

An abortive effort; a flop or dud.

A state of agitation or worry.

To sputter or hiss.

(figuratively, informal) To decay or die off to nothing; to burn out; to end less successfully than previously hoped.

(military, of a nuclear weapon) To fail to generate the expected yield when exploded during testing.