Definition of BUFFALO

buffalo

Meanings

Plural: buffalo, buffaloes, buffalos

Noun

  • large shaggy-haired brown bison of North American plains
  • a city on Lake Erie in western New York (near Niagara Falls)
  • meat from an American bison
  • any of several Old World animals resembling oxen including, e.g., water buffalo; Cape buffalo
  • An animal from the subtribe Bubalina, also known as true buffalos, such as the Cape buffalo, Syncerus caffer, or the water buffalo, Bubalus bubalis.
  • A related North American animal, the American bison, Bos bison.
  • Ellipsis of buffalo robe.
  • The buffalo fish (Ictiobus spp.).
  • A nickel.
  • A looter during the Civil War.
  • A large or stupid person.
  • An obese person, usually a woman.
  • A black male.
  • Ellipsis of American buffalo (“gold bullion coin”).

Verb

  • intimidate or overawe
  • To hunt buffalo.
  • To outwit, confuse, deceive, or intimidate.
  • To pistol-whip.

Origin / Etymology

Borrowed from Portuguese or Spanish búfalo (“buffalo”), from Late Latin būfalus, from Latin būbalus, from Ancient Greek βούβαλος (boúbalos, “antelope, wild ox”). Doublet of bubale and buffle.

Synonyms

American bison, American buffalo, Bison bison, browbeat, buffalo, buffle, bulldoze, bully, cow, dastardize, daunt, dishearten, do down, domineer, drive, hector, intimidate, menace, Old World buffalo, strong-arm

Scrabble Score: 15

buffalo is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
buffalo is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
buffalo is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 18

buffalo is a valid Words With Friends word