water buffalo

American  

[waw-ter buhf-uh-loh, wot-er] / ˈwɔ tər ˌbʌf ə loʊ, ˈwɒt ər /

noun

1. a domesticated buffalo, Bubalus bubalis, of tropical Asia, having large, flattened, curved horns.

2. a very large wild buffalo, Bubalus arnee, of the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia, having large, flattened, curved horns and frequenting swamps and rivers: currently endangered.

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water buffalo British  

noun

1. Also called: Asiatic buffalo.   Indian buffalo.   carabao.  a member of the cattle tribe, Bubalus bubalis, of swampy regions of S Asia, having widely spreading back-curving horns. Domesticated forms are used as draught animals

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Etymology

Origin of water buffalo

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

In the waters of Wilpattu National Park in Sri Lanka, a water buffalo emerges from a swim, its head adorned with a garland of floating weeds.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2025

But it's the various Robert Downey Jr. iterations who push Captain to reveal that he's not as docile as the water buffalo they're expecting.

From Salon • May 12, 2024

And until 2022, Colorado was raising water buffalo for milk that was sold to giant mozzarella cheesemaker Leprino Foods, which supplies major pizza companies like Domino’s, Pizza Hut and Papa John’s.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 29, 2024

Pest population management is routinely carried out in Australia for large hooved animals, including deer, pigs, goats, camels and water buffalo.

From Science Daily • Nov. 8, 2023

Across the background a water buffalo walked with a boy on its back.

From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz