\Buf"fa*lo\, n.; pl. {Buffaloes}. [Sp. bufalo (cf. It.
bufalo, F. buffle), fr. L. bubalus, bufalus, a kind of
African stag or gazelle; also, the buffalo or wild ox, fr.
Gr. ? buffalo, prob. fr. ? ox. See {Cow} the animal, and cf.
{Buff} the color, and {Bubale}.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) A species of the genus {Bos} or {Bubalus} ({B.
   bubalus}), originally from India, but now found in most of
   the warmer countries of the eastern continent. It is
   larger and less docile than the common ox, and is fond of
   marshy places and rivers.
2. (Zo["o]l.) A very large and savage species of the same
   genus ({B. Caffer}) found in South Africa; -- called also
   {Cape buffalo}.
3. (Zo["o]l.) Any species of wild ox.
4. (Zo["o]l.) The bison of North America.
5. A buffalo robe. See {Buffalo robe}, below.
6. (Zo["o]l.) The buffalo fish. See {Buffalo fish}, below.
{Buffalo berry} (Bot.), a shrub of the Upper Missouri
   ({Sherherdia argentea}) with acid edible red berries.
{Buffalo bird} (Zo["o]l.), an African bird of the genus
   {Buphaga}, of two species. These birds perch upon
   buffaloes and cattle, in search of parasites.
{Buffalo bug}, the carpet beetle. See under {Carpet}.
{Buffalo chips}, dry dung of the buffalo, or bison, used for
   fuel. [U.S.]
{Buffalo clover} (Bot.), a kind of clover ({Trifolium
   reflexum} and {T.soloniferum}) found in the ancient
   grazing grounds of the American bison.
{Buffalo cod} (Zo["o]l.), a large, edible, marine fish
   ({Ophiodon elongatus}) of the northern Pacific coast; --
   called also {blue cod}, and {cultus cod}.
{Buffalo fish} (Zo["o]l.), one of several large fresh-water
   fishes of the family {Catostomid[ae]}, of the Mississippi
   valley. The red-mouthed or brown ({Ictiobus bubalus}), the
   big-mouthed or black ({Bubalichthys urus}), and the
   small-mouthed ({B. altus}), are among the more important
   species used as food.
{Buffalo fly}, or {Buffalo gnat} (Zo["o]l.), a small
   dipterous insect of the genus {Simulium}, allied to the
   black fly of the North. It is often extremely abundant in
   the lower part of the Mississippi valley and does great
   injury to domestic animals, often killing large numbers of
   cattle and horses. In Europe the Columbatz fly is a
   species with similar habits.
{Buffalo grass} (Bot.), a species of short, sweet grass
   ({Buchlo["e] dactyloides}), from two to four inches high,
   covering the prairies on which the buffaloes, or bisons,
   feed. [U.S.]
{Buffalo nut} (Bot.), the oily and drupelike fruit of an
   American shrub ({Pyrularia oleifera}); also, the shrub
   itself; oilnut.
{Buffalo robe}, the skin of the bison of North America,
   prepared with the hair on; -- much used as a lap robe in
   sleighs.