Main Entry: ¹buf·fa·lo

Pronunciation: \ˈbə-fə-ˌlō\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural buf·fa·lo or buf·fa·loes also buf·fa·los

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Italian bufalo & Spanish búfalo, from Late Latin bufalus, alteration of Latin bubalus, from Greek boubalos African gazelle

Date: 1562

1 : any of several wild bovids: as a : water buffalo b : cape buffalo c (1) : any of a genus (Bison) of bovids; especially : a large shaggy-maned North American bovid (B. bison) that has short horns and heavy forequarters with a large muscular hump and that was formerly abundant on the central and western plains — compare wisent (2) : the flesh of the buffalo used as food
2 : any of several suckers (genus Ictiobus) found mostly in the Mississippi valley —called also buffalo fish

[buffalo illustration]