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]

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