Buß

Buß is a German term primarily used as a bound morpheme in compounds related to penitence or repentance. In modern German, the noun for penitence is Buße, written with ß. The form Buß- appears in several common words describing penalties or religious acts of contrition, such as Bußgeld (monetary penalty), Bußtag (penitential day), Bußgottesdienst or Bußmesse (penitential service), Bußgebet (penitential prayer), and Bußakt (act of penance).

In religious contexts, Buß- compounds are frequent in Catholic and Protestant liturgy and practice. They refer to activities and observances aimed at contrition, repentance, and reparation, including confession, prayer, fasting, and acts of penance. Designated times such as Bußtag or the historically observed Buß- und Bettage mark periods of collective penitence in some German-speaking regions.

In civil and administrative language, Bußgeld denotes a financial penalty imposed for minor offenses, and the term appears in related procedures and regulations, such as Bußgeldkatalog and Bußgeldverfahren. These uses reflect the broader semantic shift of Buß- from religious or moral sense toward secular penalties.

As a surname, Buß is also found among German-speaking populations. It is used by individuals in various fields and does not imply a specific occupation or origin beyond its status as a family name.