love bite

noun

plural love bites

1

chiefly British : a temporary mark or bruise on a person's skin caused by sucking or biting : hickey

Every night he chose a new favourite bit of me and left a love bite there …

—Anna Blundy

also : a playful or amorous bite

Lolo giggled as she gave him a love bite on the neck.

—Gordon Thomas

2

: a usually gentle nip or bite from an animal and especially a pet

Chances are that these nips the cat is taking at you are playful love bites as the cat tries to exercise some dominant behavior patterns.

—John de Jong

Word History

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1