to crackle, as crepitant lungs do, as some arthritic joints may do, or as some fractured bones may do.
To sputter or hiss.
To fail to generate the expected yield when exploded during testing.
To decay or die off to nothing; to burn out; to end less successfully than previously hoped.
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.
A spluttering or hissing sound.