bison

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a large wild bovine of the genus Bison, with a massive head, short horns, and a shaggy forequarter

   A herd of bison crossed the grassland at dawn.

From Middle English bison, through Middle French from Latin bisōn ("wild ox"). The Latin word is probably related to a Germanic animal name reconstructed as *wisundaz, reflected in German Wisent and English wisent. Buffalo is widely used for the American bison but properly names other bovines as well.

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