Etymology Dictionary

KISS,  a salute with the lips, osculation.  (E.)   M.E. cos, kos, cus, kus; later kisse, kiss.   The vowel i is really proper only to the verb, which is formed from the sb. by vowel-change.   'And he cam to Jhesu, to kisse him; and Jhesus seide to him, Judas, with a coss thou bytrayest mannys sone;' Wyclif, Luke, xxii. 47, 48.   The form kusse is as late as Skelton, Phylyp Sparowe, 361.   In the Ancren Riwle, p. 102, we find cos, nom. sing., cosses, pl., cosse, dat. sing.; as well as cus, verb in the imperative mood.—A.S. coss; Luke, xxii. 48; whence cyssan, to kiss, id. xxii. 47. + Du. kus, sb., whence kussen, vb. + Icel. koss, sb.; whence kyssa, vb. + Dan. kys, sb., kysse, vb. + Swed. kyss, sb., kyssa, vb. + G. kuss, M.H.G. kus, sb.; whence küssen, O.H.G. chussan, vb.   β. All from a Teut. base KUSSA, a kiss; which is connected with Icel. kostr, choice, Goth. kustus, a proof, test, Lat. gustus, a taste.   The connection is shown by Lat. gustulus, a small dish of food, a smack, relish, also a kiss; dimin. of Lat. gustus, a taste, whet, relish.   γ. The Goth. kustus is from the verb kiusan, to choose, cognate with E. choose.   Hence the sb. kiss is, practically, a doublet of choice; and the sense is 'something choice' or 'a taste.'   See Choice, Choose, Gust.   Der. kiss, verb; as shewn above.