French kissing

[chazza]

where does this get its title from?

[mikewall01]

I hope that someone can provide a definative answer. It probably has nothing to do with France as is the case with most other things preceded by the word french ; e.g. letter, fries, polish, knickers, knot, leave, windows, mustard, etc.

[Quizmonster]

'French' has been used as an adjective in English to suggest 'spicy/sexy/naughty' since the early 18th century, in the belief that French people were somehow much more racy in such matters than the less outgoing British. As late as the 1920s, John Galsworthy wrote of another publication: "I don't advise you to read it; it is very French." The actual phrase 'French kiss' also first appeared in print in the 1920s with precisely this 'saucy' suggestiveness. As the earlier answer suggests, there is no implication that the French, as a nation, 'invented' the procedure. In biblical days - and I have no doubt it existed long before even then - it was probably called a 'Babylonian kiss' or somesuch!