[f. as prec. + -ING2.] That kisses: see the verb.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 140. Thy lips, those kissing cherries.
1784. Cowper, Lett. to J. Newton, 29 March. A most loving, kissing, kind-hearted gentleman.
1864. W. Cory, Lett. & Jrnls. (1897), 132. In the wood we met just one kissing shower.
b. Comb. kissing-crust (colloq.), the soft part of the crust of a loaf where it has touched another in baking; ‘also the under-crust in a pudding or pie’ (Farmer, Slang); kissing kind a., kind or friendly enough to kiss, on affectionate terms.
1708. W. King, Cookery, 191 (R.). These brought him kissing-crusts.
1822. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. Praise Chimneysweepers. How he would recommend this slice of white bread, or that piece of kissing-crust.
1842. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Nell Cook. A mouldy piece of kissing-crust as from a Warden-pie.
1852. R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour (1893), 153. Our friends … seemed more inclined to fraternize. Not that they were as yet kissing kind.
1886. Pall Mall Gaz., 16 Dec., 3/1. Russia and Germany are once more kissing kind.
Hence Kissingly adv.
1836. E. Howard, R. Reefer, xxxix. The breeze came so freshly and kissingly on my cheek.
1892. Clark Russell, in Pall Mall Mag., Sept., 7. She pouted her lips kissingly.
