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rub noses

Arctic

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

See 1945 quote.

Quotations

1829

. . . and when the principal [Eskimo dancer] had pretty well exhausted himself, he walked gravely up to him, and, taking his head between his hands, rubbed noses with him, amidst the plaudits of all present.

1945

Before they had much contact with white men, the Eskimos used to rub noses on meeting old friends after a protracted absence. This is seldom done now, though I did see it at Pangnirtung on the east coast of Baffin Island. It is not the vigorous, nose-smashing rubbing that the cartoonist seems to expect, but a gentle approaching of one face to the other, as though they were about to kiss. The noses barely touch, if at all, and there is a gentle intake of breath, as though sniffing. The lips make no contact at all.

1963

"You're not talking to a stage Eskimo. Like I don't rub noses anymore, you know."