2. (common).—See quot.
1856. DICKENS, The Detective Police, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 242 [The Quarterly Review, xcix. 177]. I observed that on the back of the letter there was what we call a KISS—a drop of wax by the side of the seal.
3. In pl. (stock exchange).—Hotchkiss Ordnance Co. shares.
Verb. (old colloquial).—To touch gently; to brush. In billiards and other games the balls are said TO KISS when they barely touch.
1593. SHAKESPEARE, Taming of the Shrew, i. 1. When with his knees he KISSED the Cretan strand.
2. (venery).—See KISS, subs. sense 1.
1730. RAMSAY, Fables and Tales, in Wks. [1800], ii. 515.
| Ah me! your reverence’s sister, | |
| Ten times I carnally have—KIST her. |
c. 1786. CAPTAIN MORRIS, The Plenipotentiary.
| The next to be KISSED, on the Plenipo’s list, | |
| Was a delicate Maiden of Honour. |
TO KISS THE CLAWS (or HANDS), verb. phr. (old).—To salute.
1630. TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Workes, ‘A Kicksey Winsey.’
| These men can KISSE THEIR CLAWS, with, Iack, how is’t? | |
| And take and shake me kindely by the fist, | |
| And put me off with dilatory cogges. | |
| Ibid., ‘Taylors farewell to the Tower-bottles.’ | |
| I’m glad to see thee well with all my heart, | |
| Long have I long’d to drinke with thee a quart, | |
| I have beleev’d this Drosse had beene pure Gold, | |
| When presently I have beene bought and sold | |
| Behind my backe (for no desert and Cause) | |
| By those that kindly Cap’d and KIST THEIR CLAWES. |
1650. HOWELL, Familiar Letters [quoted by NARES]. This letter comes to KISSE YOUR HANDS from fair Florence, a citie so beutifull.
TO KISS THE COUNTER, verb. phr. (old).—To be confined in the Counter prison. Also CLINK.
1618. ROWLANDS, The Night Raven, p. 11 [Hunterian Club’s Reprint, 1874]. Constable:—
| Tell me of supper, tut a puddings end, | |
| You KISSE THE COUNTER, sirra, that is flat, | |
| Ile teach you know my place deserves a hat. |
1626. Letter to the Rev. Joseph Mead, 13 Oct. Some constables, for refusing to distrain, have KISSED THE COUNTER; and some have taken up their lodgings in Newgate, but have been since released.
TO KISS THE DUST, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To die. For synonyms, see ALOFT.
TO KISS THE HARE’S FOOT, verb. phr. (old).—To be too late for meals; TO DINE WITH DUKE HUMPHREY (q.v.).
1598. The Serving-man’s Comfort, Sign. C. The hall summons this consort of companions (upon payne to dyne with Duke Humfrie, or to KISSE THE HARE’S FOOT) to appear at the first call.
1616. W. BROWNE, Britannia’s Pastorals, ii. 2, p. 67.
| ’Tis supper-time withall, and we had need | |
| Make haste away, unlesse we meane to speed | |
| With those that KISSE THE HARES FOOT: Rhumes are bred, | |
| Some say, by going supperlesse to bed. |
1672. RAY, Proverbs, p. 195. TO KISS THE HARE’S FOOT, prov. Spoken to one that comes so late that he hath lost his dinner or supper.
1677. COLE, Dictionary. You must KISS THE HARE’S FOOT, post festum venisti.
1851. Notes and Queries, 1 S. 4. p. 21. KISS THE HARE’S FOOT.—This locution is commonly used in some parts of the United Kingdom, to describe, what is expressed by the Latin proverb: ‘Sero venientibus ossa.’
TO KISS THE MASTER, verb. phr. (old).—To hit the JACK (q.v.) at bowls.
1579. GOSSON, The Schoole of Abuse, p. 60 (ARBER’S ed.). At Diceplay, euery one wisheth to caste well; at Bowles euery one craues TO KISSE THE MAISTER; at running euery one starteth to win the goale.
TO KISS THE POST, verb. phr. (old).—To be shut out.
1600. HEYWOOD, The First Part of King Edward IV., iv. [NARES].
| Dost thou hear me, Ned? If I shall be thy host, | |
| Make haste thou art best, for fear THOU KISS THE POST. |
1612. BRETON, Pasquil’s Night-Cap [NARES].
| Men of all countries trauels through the same, | |
| And (if they money want) may KISSE THE POST. |
1630. TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Workes, ‘A Complaint and a Petition to him.’
| Mars yeelds to Venus, Gown-men rule the rost now, | |
| And men of War may fast, or KISSE THE POST now. |
KISS MY ARSE. See ARSE.
TO KISS THE MAID, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. KISSING THE MAID, an Engine in Scotland, and at Halifax in England, in which the Head of a Malefactor is Laid to be Cut off, and which this way is done to a Hair, said to be invented by Earl Morton who had the ill Fate to Handsel it. [Also A New Canting Dictionary (1725).]
