subs. (colloquial).—The soft-baked surface between two loaves; also the under-crust in a pudding or pie.
1708. KING, The Art of Cookery. These baked him KISSING-CRUSTS and those Brought him small beer.
1714. Spectator, No. 608. A quarrel about the KISSING-CRUST; spoiling of dinners, and coming in late at nights.
1822. LAMB, The Essays of Elia, ‘The Praise of Chimney-Sweepers.’ How he would recommend this slice of white bread, or that piece of KISSING-CRUST, to a tender juvenile.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Nell Cook.’ And a mouldy piece of ‘KISSING-CRUST,’ as from a Warden-pie!
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1811. GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
