kiss English · revision 4371

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 750|origins=gem-pro *kussijaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kɪs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|kissen]], cussen,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|cyssan|t=to touch with the lips]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*kussijaną|alt=*kussjan]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) also the source of Old Saxon kussian, Old Norse kyssa, Dutch kussen and German küssen,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from *kuss-, the root of Old English coss “a kiss”, probably imitative of the sound.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Gothic used kukjan.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Etymonline notes a similar ku- sound in Greek kynein, Hittite kuwash- and Sanskrit cumbati, but Buck held that such words are no proof that kissing was known in Indo-European times.^(Etymonline) The noun, Old English coss, became Middle English cos, cus, and was later conformed to the verb.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English cyssan is from about 750 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) about 900 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The noun is from about 1000.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Middle English forms were cussen, about 1175 in southwestern dialect, and kissen, about 1250 in the Midlands;^(Barnhart 1988) the vowel stayed uncertain through Middle English.^(Etymonline) Of two people kissing each other it is from about 1300,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and figuratively a light touch from 1588.^(OED 1989) The noun kiss replaced coss in the 14th century.^(Hoad 1986) A small sweet is from 1825,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) compare Shakespeare's kissing comfits for freshening the breath;^(Etymonline) a kiss at the end of a letter is from 1882.^(OED 1989) ''The kiss of death'', from 1944 in Etymonline and 1948 in the OED, alludes to Judas's kiss in Gethsemane.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Cresswell 2021) Old English had sibbecoss for the kiss of peace.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 750 – Old English cyssan.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1000 – the noun coss.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – to kiss each other.^(Etymonline)

+ * 14th century – noun kiss replaces coss.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1588 – a light touch.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1825 – a sweet.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1882 – a kiss in a letter.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1944 – ''kiss of death''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To touch with the [[lip]]s as a sign of affection, greeting or respect.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To touch lightly or gently: ''sunlight kissed the hills''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To brush against, as one billiard ball against another.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A touch with the lips.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A light touch.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A small piece of candy, as of [[chocolate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[kissable]]

+ * [[unkissed]]

+ * [[kisser]]

+ * [[ass-kissing]]

+ * [[kiss-off]]

+ * [[kiss and tell]]

+ * [[French kiss]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[kissing]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}