Buffaloes

/ˈbʌfəˌloʊz/ noun

Definition

Large, powerful bovine animals, or the plural of buffalo referring to both American bison and African/Asian water buffalo.

Etymology

From Portuguese 'búfalo' via Italian 'bufalo', ultimately from Greek 'boubalos' (antelope). The word was applied to American bison by early European explorers, though technically they are different species.

Kelly Says

The American 'buffalo' is actually a bison, but the misnomer stuck so firmly that even the official name includes it - the American Buffalo National Monument. This linguistic confusion reflects how early explorers often named new world animals after familiar old world ones, sometimes creating permanent misconceptions.

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