Lickings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A light touch or slight interaction with a surface
2. A gentle caress or stroke made with the tongue upon a surface
3. A slight tasting or sampling action often involving the tongue

Etymology: "Lickings" is the plural of "licking," so the history of the singular carries over. The noun "licking" is formed from the verb "lick," which goes back to Old English "liccian," and the -ing ending turns the action into a noun for an instance of it. The plural form simply counts separate instances, so "lickings" refers to several separate tastings or sampling actions rather than a new meaning of its own.