bison

[ bahy-suh n, -zuh n ]
/ ˈbaɪ sən, -zən /

noun, plural bi·son.

Also called American bison, American buffalo. a North American, oxlike ruminant, Bison bison, having a large head and high, humped shoulders: formerly common in North America, its small remaining population in isolated western areas of the U.S. and Canada is now protected.
Also called wisent. a related animal, Bison bonasus, of Europe, less shaggy and slightly larger than the American bison: now greatly reduced in number.
Compare buffalo.

Origin of bison

1350–1400; Middle English bisontes (plural) < Latin (nominative singular bisōn) < Germanic; compare Old High German wisunt, Old English wesend, Old Norse visundr

OTHER WORDS FROM bison

bi·son·tine [bahy-suh n-tahyn, -zuh n-] /ˈbaɪ sənˌtaɪn, -zən-/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for bison

British Dictionary definitions for bison

bison
/ (ˈbaɪsən) /

noun plural -son

Also called: American bison, buffalo a member of the cattle tribe, Bison bison, formerly widely distributed over the prairies of W North America but now confined to reserves and parks, with a massive head, shaggy forequarters, and a humped back
Also called: wisent, European bison a closely related and similar animal, Bison bonasus, formerly widespread in Europe

Word Origin for bison

C14: from Latin bisōn, of Germanic origin; related to Old English wesand, Old Norse vīsundr