buffalo

Origin: Sp. Bufalo (cf. It. Bufalo, F. Buffle), fr. L. Bubalus, bufalus, a kind of African stag or gazelle; also, the buffalo or wild ox, fr. Gr. Buffalo, prob. Fr. Ox. See Cow the animal, and cf. Buff the colour, and Bubale.

1. <zoology> A species of the genus Bos or Bubalus (B. Bubalus), originally from India, but now found in most of the warmer countries of the eastern continent. It is larger and less docile than the common ox, and is fond of marshy places and rivers.

2. <zoology> A very large and savage species of the same genus (B. Caffer) found in South Africa; called also Cape buffalo.

3. <zoology> Any species of wild ox.

4. <zoology> The bison of North America.

5. A buffalo robe. See Buffalo robe, below.

6. <marine biology> The buffalo fish. See Buffalo fish, below.

<botany> Buffalo berry, the oily and drupelike fruit of an American shrub (Pyrularia oleifera); also, the shrub itself; oilnut. Buffalo robe, the skin of the bison of North America, prepared with the hair on; much used as a lap robe in sleighs.

Source: Websters Dictionary