buffalo
UK: ˈbʌfələʊ | US: ˈbʌfəloʊ
n. 1. A large, wild bovine animal native to Africa and Asia (synonymous with "bison" in North America).
n. 2. The city of Buffalo in New York, USA.
vt. 3. To intimidate or confuse someone (colloquial usage).
The word "buffalo" originates from the Portuguese "bufalo," derived from Latin "būbalus" (wild ox), which itself traces back to Greek "boubalos" (antelope or wild ox). The term entered English via colonial trade routes. While "buff-" loosely relates to "ox," the "-alo" segment lacks a distinct morpheme boundary in modern English, making the word non-splittable under the Morpheme Integrity Rule. Its colloquial verb meaning ("to buffalo") emerged in 19th-century American slang, metaphorically linking the animal's stubbornness to human behavior.
The American buffalo once roamed the Great Plains in massive herds.
Buffalo, New York, is famous for its snowy winters.
Don’t let his aggressive tone buffalo you—stay confident.
We spotted a buffalo grazing near the riverbank.
The term "buffalo soldier" refers to African-American cavalry regiments in the 19th century.