Main Entry:

bi·son

Pronunciation:

\ˈbī-s^ən, -z^ən\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural bison

Etymology:

Latin bisont-, bison, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wisant aurochs; akin to Old Prussian wissambrs aurochs

Date:

circa 1611

: any of several large shaggy-maned usually gregarious recent or extinct bovine mammals (genus Bison) having a large head with short horns and heavy forequarters surmounted by a large fleshy hump: as a: wisent b: buffalo 1c(1)

— bi·son·tine \-s^ən-ˌtīn, -z^ən-\ adjective