buffalo

¹

[ buhf-uh-loh ]

noun

, plural buf·fa·loes, buf·fa·los, (especially collectively) buf·fa·lo.

1. any of several large wild oxen of the family Bovidae. Compare bison, Cape buffalo, water buffalo.
2. buffalo robe.
3. a buffalofish.
4. a shuffling tap-dance step.

verb (used with object)

, Informal.

, buf·fa·loed, buf·fa·lo·ing.

1. to puzzle or baffle; confuse; mystify:

   He was buffaloed by the problem.

2. to impress or intimidate by a display of power, importance, etc.:

   The older boys buffaloed him.

Buffalo

²

[ buhf-uh-loh ]

noun

1. a port in W New York, on Lake Erie.

buffalo

¹

/ ˈbʌfəˌləʊ /

noun

1. Also calledCape buffalo a member of the cattle tribe, Syncerus caffer , mostly found in game reserves in southern and eastern Africa and having upward-curving horns
2. short for water buffalo
3. Also calledbison a member of the cattle tribe, Bison bison , formerly widely distributed over the prairies of W North America but now confined to reserves and parks, with a massive head, shaggy forequarters, and a humped back bubaline

verb

1. often passive to confuse
2. to intimidate

Buffalo

²

/ ˈbʌfəˌləʊ /

noun

1. a port in W New York State, at the E end of Lake Erie. Pop: 285 018 (2003 est)

Buffalo

1. City in western New York , on Lake Erie and the Niagara River.

Notes

Niagara Falls is northwest of Buffalo.

Word History and Origins

Origin of buffalo¹

1535–45, Americanism; earlier bufalo < Portuguese (now bufaro ) < Late Latin būfalus, variant of Latin būbalus bubal

Word History and Origins

Origin of buffalo¹

C16: from Italian bufalo , from Late Latin būfalus , alteration of Latin būbalus ; see bubal

Example Sentences

Yala National Park, located in the country's south-east, is one of Sri Lanka's most popular wildlife parks, home to a high concentration of leopards, elephants and buffalos, among other animals.

From BBC

"The Ministry will contribute 723 animals comprising 30 hippos, 60 buffalos, 50 impalas, 100 blue wilderbeast, 300 zebras, 83 elephants and 100 elands," the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said in a statement.

From Salon

Throughout the trial, a buffalo head sat on a red cloth on a table near the prosecutors in tribute to the still unidentified victim.

From BBC

But you can also find cheese made with milk from other animals like sheep, goats and even water buffalo and yak.

From Salon

The large mammals that once inhabited it like lions, rhinos and buffalos have all been hunted out, most likely for food during the war.

From BBC

Related Words

• agitate
• bewilder
• chill
• confound
• daunt
• demoralize
• disconcert
• discourage
• dishearten
• dismay
• dispirit
• distract
• fluster
• frighten
• perturb
• rattle
• sap
• shake
• undermine
• unsettle