Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

kiss hands

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.48 in modern English

Syllables: kiss hands
IPA

17

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

1

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To formally accept an appointment as prime minister or certain other ministerial positions in a royal ceremony.

British usage

verb

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see kiss, hands.

Example Sentences

"Bishop Wilberforce had accompanied Mr. Gladstone to Windsor, when he went to kiss hands on his appointment as Prime Minister."
"His Majesty received in audience the Rt Hon Andrew Burnham MP and requested him to form a new Administration. The Rt Hon Andrew Burnham MP accepted The King’s offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury."

Etymology

Originally, people appointed by the sovereign would demonstrate fealty by kissing the sovereign's hand.

Usage

British usage

Inflected Forms

kisses hands (present, singular) kissing hands (participle, present) kissed hands (participle, past) kissed hands (past)

Questions

What does kiss hands mean?: To formally accept an appointment as prime minister or certain other ministerial positions in a royal ceremony.
Where does kiss hands come from?: Originally, people appointed by the sovereign would demonstrate fealty by kissing the sovereign's hand.

How to pronounce kiss hands

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “kiss hands”.
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