Schuss

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ʃʊs/

Definitions

1. A swift descent down a slope on skis or a snowboard recognizes a technique used in alpine skiing
2. This term also refers to a rapid movement in a linear direction, often associated with speed
3. Additionally, it can signify a type of maneuver executed for optimal performance in ski racing

Etymology: The skiing term "schuss" is a German word meaning "shot," and it kept that sense of rapid, unchecked motion when it crossed into English. A schuss is a fast, straight run straight down a slope, taken without the zigzag turns that skiers normally use to control speed. The image is of a projectile let loose, which is exactly what the skier becomes on a steep, open run. English borrowed the term from German, where "Schuss" comes from the same root as the verb "schießen," to shoot. Its use as a noun for a downhill race or run and as a verb for making such a run came into English with the sport of skiing, which developed in the Alpine regions where German was spoken. The word is therefore a specialist borrowing rather than a general English term, and it keeps the vivid German idea of speed as a shot fired down the hill.

Synonyms: slope, run, descent, slide, ski