v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Kissed p. pr. & vb. n. Kissing. ] [ OE. kissen, cussen, AS. cyssan, fr. coss a kiss; of uncertain origin; akin to D. kus, G. kuss, Icel. koss. ] 1. To salute with the lips, as a mark of affection, reverence, submission, forgiveness, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

He . . . kissed her lips with such a clamorous smack,
That at the parting all the church echoed. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To touch gently, as if fondly or caressingly. [ 1913 Webster ]

When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To make or give salutation with the lips in token of love, respect, etc.; as, kiss and make friends. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To meet; to come in contact; to touch fondly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rose, rose and clematis,
Trail and twine and clasp and kiss. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Kissing comfit, a perfumed sugarplum to sweeten the breath. [ Obs or Prov. End. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. kiss, derived under the influence of the verb from the older form coss, AS. coss. See Kiss, v. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A salutation with the lips, as a token of affection, respect, etc.; as, a parting kiss; a kiss of reconciliation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Last with a kiss, she took a long farewell. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dear as remembered kisses after death. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A small piece of confectionery. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who kisses. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. the face or mouth. [ slang ] [ PJC ]

. (Zool.) Any one of several species of blood-sucking, venomous Hemiptera that sometimes bite the lip or other parts of the human body, causing painful sores, as the cone-nose (Conorhinus sanguisuga). [ U. S. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. A cousin sufficiently well acquainted to be greeted with a kiss; a type of kissing kin. [ PJC ]

n. (Cookery) The portion of the upper crust of a loaf which has touched another loaf in baking. Lamb. [ 1913 Webster ]

A massy fragment from the rich kissingcrust that hangs like a fretted cornice from the upper half of the loaf. W. Howitt. [ 1913 Webster ]

. Infectious mononucleosis; -- so called because often spread by kissing. [ PJC ]

. Any relative more distant than the immediate family, sufficiently well acquainted to be greeted with a kiss, such as a kissing cousin. [ PJC ]

pos>n. Cap or bonnet strings made long to tie under the chin.

One of her ladyship's kissing strings, once pink and fluttering and now faded and soiled. Pall Mall Mag. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]