stoß

Stoß is a masculine noun in German (der Stoß) that denotes a sudden contact, push, or impact. The term covers a range of meanings from a physical shove to a forceful blow or collision. It is derived from the verb stoßen, which means to push, shove, strike, or butt. In everyday language, Stoß can describe both a deliberate action (a push) and a sudden impact.

In common usage several fixed expressions and compounds center on Stoß. Stoßzeiten refers to peak hours or rush times, when traffic or activity is at its maximum. Stoßstange (bumper) and Stoßfänger (bumper, on a vehicle) name parts designed to absorb impacts. Stoßdämpfer is a shock absorber used in vehicles and machinery to dampen shocks. In physics and engineering, Stoß is also used to describe a collision or impact event, with phrases such as elastischer Stoß (elastic collision) and inelastischer Stoß (inelastic collision); these terms contrast instantaneous impacts with changes in momentum.

The word also appears in sports and combat terminology, for example Kopfstoß, a head butt, and other contexts where a sudden violent contact is involved. While Stoß can be understood broadly as a “blow” or “hit,” the precise meaning depends on context, distinguishing between a physical push, a one-time impact, or a technical collision in science and engineering.

Etymologically, Stoß comes from the verb stoßen, and it forms part of many compound nouns across daily life, transportation, and technical fields. See also related terms such as Stoßwelle (shock wave) and the previously mentioned compounds.