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bise

kiss on the cheek, peck

noun BEEZ Rare
People & Society Relationships

Origin: Old French bise, of Germanic origin

Also means

cold north wind

Usage Note

Bise has two distinct senses. In everyday informal use, une bise (or les bises) is a cheek kiss, the standard greeting in France — faire la bise means to greet with cheek kisses. In a meteorological or literary register, la bise is the cold dry north or north-east wind typical of certain French regions. Letters and messages frequently end with grosses bises ('big kisses').

Examples

"Elle lui a fait la bise en arrivant."

Natural Translation

She gave him a kiss on the cheek when she arrived.

Literal Translation

She made him the cheek-kiss on arriving.

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