bison

(sən, -zən)

noun pl. bison

any of a genus (Bison) of bovid ruminants having a shaggy mane, short, curved horns, and a humped back, as the American buffalo (B. bison) or the wisent

Origin: Early ModE bisontes, pl. < L, pl. of bison, wild ox < Gmc *wisunt < IE *wis-onto- < base *weis-: see weasel

See bison in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. bison bison
  1. A bovine mammal (Bison bison) of western North America, having large forequarters, a shaggy mane, and a massive head with short curved horns; a buffalo.
  2. An animal (B. bonasus) of Europe, similar to but somewhat smaller than the bison; a wisent.

Origin:

Origin: Latin bisōn

Origin: , of Germanic origin

Origin: ; akin to Old High German wisunt

.

Learn more about bison

bison

link/cite print suggestion box