buss

Meaning

Noun

A kiss.

Verb

1. To kiss (either literally or figuratively).
2. To kiss.

Synonyms

kiss

😗

snog

give a kiss

osculate

osculation

candy kiss

smack

smooch

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bʌs/

Etymology

Uncertain. First attested in the 1560s. Possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰus- (“lip, to kiss”) via Proto-Germanic *busaną (compare German bussen), but in any case imitative of kissing. Compare Welsh bus (“kiss, lip”) and Irish bus (“lips, mouth”) (both may have influenced English), Persian بوس (bus, “kiss”), Latvian buča (“kiss”), Latin basium (“kiss”).
Mainstream proposals like in The Free Dictionary have suggested it is a blend of old English dialect words bass (related to French baiser) and cuss (akin to kissen); perhaps compare puss.