Xoxo

Alternative forms

• xo
• xoxoxo

Origin

From use of X/x to mean “kiss” and O/o to mean “hug”. Use of “X” to indicate a kiss attested since 1763,

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary|X

preceded by medieval use of “X”, which was then kissed, by illiterates to indicate a signature.

How Stuff Works: How Valentine's Day Works

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.

Full definition of xoxo

{{abbreviation-old|en}}

1. An abbreviation for hugs and kisses, usually placed at the end of a letter.