The origin of the word "kiss" is somewhat uncertain, with no definitive single answer.
The YouTube video provided offers a woman's anecdotal response to the question, "Why are these things called kisses?" Her answer is simply "I don't know, I don't remember." This highlights the widespread lack of concrete knowledge regarding the etymology of the word.
However, we can explore some potential origins:
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Possible Proto-Indo-European Root: Some linguists suggest the word "kiss" may derive from a Proto-Indo-European root, possibly "kuss-" or "kus-," which was imitative of the sound made when kissing. This onomatopoeic theory is a common explanation.
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Germanic Languages: The word has cognates in various Germanic languages, further supporting a potential Germanic origin. For example, the German word "Kuss" and the Dutch word "kus" both mean kiss.
While the exact origin remains debated, the sound imitation theory is the most widely accepted and plausible explanation. The word "kiss" likely evolved from a sound associated with the action itself and was subsequently adopted and adapted across various languages.