xoxo
English
Etymology
From use of X/x to mean “kiss” and O/o to mean “hug”. Use of “X” to indicate a kiss attested since 1763,[1][2] preceded by medieval use of “X”, which was then kissed, by illiterates to indicate a signature.[3] Use of “O” is more recent, and presumably created by analogy (e.g., X/O in tic-tac-toe). Speculative theories on precise origins abound.
References
- OED: “X” 1763 Gilbert White Letter (1901) I. vii. 132, I am with many a xxxxxxx and many a Pater noster and Ave Maria, Gil. White.
- “X” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.
- How Stuff Works: How Valentine's Day Works
Mapudungun
References
- Wixaleyiñ: Mapucezugun-wigkazugun pici hemvlcijka (Wixaleyiñ: Small Mapudungun-Spanish dictionary), Beretta, Marta; Cañumil, Dario; Cañumil, Tulio, 2008.
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