baise-mains

plural noun

ˌbāz(ə)ˈmaⁿ,

ˌbez-

: respects, compliments

greeted the owners with curtsies and baise-mains

—Natacha Stewart

Word History

Etymology

French, from baiser to kiss (from Old French baisier, from Latin basiare) + mains, plural of main hand, from Latin manus

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!