Cibolero

/ˌsɪbəˈlɛɹoʊ/ noun

Definition

A person who hunts or trades in buffalo or bison, especially on the American Great Plains.

Etymology

From Spanish 'cibolero,' derived from 'cíbola' (buffalo), which comes from Taíno origins via Caribbean contact languages. The term evolved in colonial North America to describe specialized hunters and traders.

Kelly Says

The ciboleros were essentially the buffalo hunters of the Spanish colonial frontier—tough traders who understood both European and Native American commerce and could survive on the plains. Their existence shows how the fur and hide trade wasn't just French-Canadian; Spanish speakers had their own hunting traditions.

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