KISS, kis, _v.t._ to press one's lips to in affection or reverence: to
treat with fondness: to touch gently: to collide (of two
billiard-balls).--_v.i._ to salute with the lips.--_n._ a salute with the
lips.--_ns._ KISS'-CURL, a small curl at the side of the forehead; KISS'ER;
KISS'ING-COM'FIT, a perfumed comfit for sweetening the breath;
KISS'ING-CRUST, that part of the upper crust of the loaf which, while
baking, overhangs the edge and touches another.--_n.pl._ KISS'ING-STRINGS,
cap or bonnet strings tied under the chin.--_n._ KISS'-ME, the wild form of
_Viola tricolor_, the pansy: a short veil: a small bonnet--also
KISS'-ME-QUICK.--KISS HANDS, to kiss the sovereign's hands on a minister's
acceptance of office; KISS OF PEACE, a kiss of greeting exchanged between
the members of the early Church, a shadow of which survives in the kissing
of the pax at high mass; KISS THE BOOK, to kiss a copy of the New
Testament, in England, after taking a legal oath; KISS THE DUST, to be
felled to the ground, to be slain or vanquished; KISS THE GUNNER'S
DAUGHTER, to get a flogging, tied to the breech of a cannon; KISS THE ROD,
to submit to punishment. [A.S. _cyssan_, to kiss--_coss_, a kiss; Ger.
_küssen_, Dan. _kys_; allied to _choose_ and _gust_.]
KIST, kist, _n._ (_Scot._) a chest.--KIST O' WHISTLES, an organ. [A.S.
_cist_.]
KISTVAEN, kist'v[=a]-en, _n._ a burial-chamber made of flat stones, and
shaped like a chest. [W. _cist_, chest, _maen_, stone.]
KIT, kit, _n._ a small wooden tub: the outfit of necessaries of a soldier,
sailor, or mechanic. [Old Dut. _kitte_, a hooped beer-can.]
KIT, kit, a small pocket violin. [Contracted from A.S. _cytere_--L.
_cythara_, a _guitar_.]
KIT, kit, _n._ a contraction of kitten.--_n._ KIT'-CAT, a game played with
sticks and a small piece of wood called a cat.