As a noun, it is very light rain made of fine drops. As a verb, it means to rain in this light way, or to pour a thin stream of liquid over food.
From Middle English 'drisling', related to Old English 'drēosan' meaning 'to fall', and possibly linked to 'dross'. The word imitates the soft, gentle nature of the rain. Over time, it was also applied to thin streams of other liquids in cooking.
Drizzle is the kind of rain that seems harmless but can soak you slowly without you noticing. In cooking, 'drizzling' oil or sauce adds flavor without flooding the dish. The word lives in that in-between space: not dry, not downpour, but a quiet, persistent in-between.
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