And where does 'peter out' come from anyway

Apologies for reviving an ancient topic, but I was doing some antiyart searching and just happened across it.

I don't know, but the verb "to peter" in bridge means to play a higher card than necessary followed next time round by a lower one, for example from A-7-3 or 7-3) the 7 then the 3 to request same again. I have always idly thought (with no evidence) that the connotation of high to low in bridge had some connection to "peter out".

Rod