Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. US) a toady, a sycophant.

1953		W. Eyster Far from the Customary Skies 116: Oklahoma referred to him as, ‘that kiss-ass’.
1971		F. Hilaire Thanatos 17: You’re a kiss-ass—dig?
1984		W. Diehl Hooligans (2003) 15: He’s just a kiss-ass to the people on the green side of town.
1993		L. Rodríguez Always Running (1996) 50: Jose’s just a lambiche, a kiss-ass.
1997–2000		Da Bomb 🌐 17: Kiss ass: Used to refer to another student who wants to be in good graces with the instructor; one who trys to be nice to gain favors.
2005		L. Theroux Call of the Weird (2006) 151: He’s got to be a kiss-ass to keep his job.