xxx

[possetpie]

Why is the letter X used on a card or at the end of a letter to represent a kiss?

[Ginger30]

I found this answer: This tradition started with the medieval practice of allowing those who could not write to sign documents with an "X". This was done before witnesses, and the signer placed a kiss upon the "X" to show sincerity. This is how the kiss came to be synonymous with the letter "X", and how the "X" came to be commonly used at the end of letters as a kiss symbol.

[Quizmonster]

'X' has been used to represent a kiss only from as long ago as the middle of the 18th century. As to why �X' means that, it's probably because the letter actually sounds very much like 'ks', which could be seen as an abbreviation of 'kiss'.
In addition, I've always imagined it might also represent two faces seen side-on, with lips puckered up and touching...><...ie a kiss! It may take a bit of imagination, but try it.

[greenrook]

I like Ginger's answer, that interpretation rings very true. Sorry, but the 'X' being some sort of pictorial representation of 2 kissing silhouettes, or sounding like the word 'kiss' seems to me to be reaching a bit

[Quizmonster]

Ginger refers to the idea of kissing one's x-'signature' as being medi�val. That may well be so, but - if it is - I'd like to see some evidence that such a thing ever happened. Presumably, some historical document refers to this odd procedure?
And, more to the point, I wonder why there is no reference to the X = kiss concept before the 1760s. The Middle Ages, after all, ended around 1500 AD. I wonder, therefore, why Chaucer, Shakespeare and a host of other early writers never mentioned it.
The explanation I offered earlier follows the word 'probably', but Ginger's suggestion seems like a bit of folk-etymology to me...but what the hey!