Information AboutKiss |
|
, 19th century.]] A kiss (from Old English ''cyssan'' "to kiss", in turn from ''coss'' "a kiss", perhaps Onomatopoeic ) is the touching of the Lip s to some other thing, usually another person. The science of kissing is called Philematology. Kissing is a learned behaviour, related to the grooming behaviour seen between other animals. Many non-human Primates also exhibit kissing behaviour. KISSING AS AFFECTION In modern Western Culture , kissing is most commonly an expression of Affection . Between people of close acquaintance, a kiss, often reciprocal, is offered as a greeting or a good-bye. This kind of kiss is typically made by brief contact of puckered lips to the skin of the Cheek or no contact at all, and merely performed in the air near the cheek with the cheeks touching. Such kissing is a common greeting in European and Latin American countries between a man and a woman or between two women. Relatives may kiss Children to comfort them or show affection, and vice versa. As an expression of romantic affection or Sex ual desire, kissing involves two people kissing one another on the lips, usually with much more intensity, and for a considerably longer period of time. In more passionate kissing couples may open their mouths, suck on each others' lips, or move their Tongue s into each others' mouths (see French Kissing ). Sexualised Kissing may also involve one person kissing another on various parts of the body. In romantic and sexual kissing, the physical sensations are often of primary importance. One might find it stimulating if their partner moved their tongue in small circles against their own, or bit the lips gently. KISSING AS SYMBOLISM When not an expression of affection, a kiss is a largely symbolic gesture in that the purpose of the kiss is to convey a meaning, such as salutations or subordination, rather than to experience the physical sensations associated with kissing. Kisses on the cheek as salutations are traditional in many parts of Continental Europe , and the number of kisses, alternating cheeks, depends on which region one comes from. Kissing may also be used to signify reverence and subordination, as in kissing the ring of a King or Pope . A kiss can also be rude or done for the sake of irritating or proving one's superiority. A Rude Kiss or a kiss with a smack is referred to, in the USA, as a Buss . A more ominous use of the kiss is as a symbol of condemnation as may be observed when a Crime Lord kisses an Underling , in effect imposing a Death Sentence upon that person, the ultimate " Goodbye Kiss " or the " Kiss Of Death ". The term ''Kissing Hands'' is used to formally describe the appointment of the senior state figures to office by British Monarchs . Though in the past, the monarch's hand was actually kissed, this is no longer so. When figures such as the British Prime Minister , cabinet members and diplomatics are formally appointed, they are said to have ''Kissed Hands''. (Kissing the hand is still practised as a romantic flourish, especially in Latin countries.) |