Bī'son, n.

(Synop., § 130), n. [Lat. bīson, Gr. Βίσων, Fr. bison, Pr. bison, bizon, Sp. bisonte, It. bisonte, bissonte, O. H. Ger. wisunt, wisunt, wisint, N. H. Ger. w(isent), A-S. wesend, Icel. visundr.] (Zoöl.) A quadruped (Bison or Bos Americanus) inhabiting the interior of North America, especially about the Rocky Mountains. It is popularly called the buffalo; but the true buffalo belongs to the eastern continent, and to a different subdivision of the genus Bos. The bison is a large, wild animal, with thick body and stout legs, short black horns rapidly tapering, and with hair much more thick and shaggy in winter than in summer. It is most nearly related to the aurochs of Central Europe, and the two species have been referred to a common genus. Dana.