PARIS (AP) - After centuries of lacking a French word for the sloppy Gallic export "to French kiss", a verb has finally been given its rightful place in the French dictionary.

"Galocher" - to kiss with tongues - is among new entries added to the "Petit Robert" 2014 edition, which hits the shops on Thursday.

It may surprise many that France, a country famed for its amorous exploits, is only just embracing the popular pastime. Yet publisher Laurence Laporte said that it's just the evolution of language.

She explained that the French have "always had many expressions to describe it, like 'kissing at length in the mouth, 'but it's true, we've never had one single word'."

She added: "it never stopped us doing it."