bison

UK, US /ˈbaɪ̯sən/

Etymology From Middle English bysontes, bysountes pl, from Middle French bison, from Latin bisōn, bisōnt- (“wild ox”). The Latin term is recorded in the 1st century, likely a direct loan from Proto-Germanic *wisundaz (“wild ox, aurochs”) (see for full etymology). Akin to Old High German wisunt (“bison”), German Wisent (“bison”), Old English wesend, wusend (“bison, buffalo, wild ox”), Middle Dutch wēsent (“wild ox”). Doublet of wisent.

Derived terms

American bison, bison grass, European bison, Higgs bison, Indian bison, North American bison, plains bison, steppe bison, wood bison

Coordinate terms

bovid, bovine, buffalo, cattle, cow, wisent