ˈbīs ə n, ˈbīz ə n noun
Etymology: Latin bisont-, bison, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English wesend aurochs, Old High German wisant, wisunt, Old Norse vīsundr; akin to Old Prussian wis sambrs aurochs and perhaps to Latin virus slimy liquid, poison, stench; from its musky odor — more at virus
1. plural bison also bisons
a. : any of several large shaggy-maned usually gregarious recent or extinct bovine mammals constituting the genus Bison and having a large head with short horns and heavy forequarters surmounted by a large fleshy hump formed by the withers and supported by prolonged spinous processes of the ribs
b. : a recent member of this group:
(1) : wisent
(2) : buffalo 1c
2. capitalized : the genus of Bovidae comprising bison and sometimes being regarded as a subgenus of Bos
3. plural bison : any of certain Asiatic wild oxen ; specifically : gaur
4. -s : a dark grayish yellowish brown that is stronger and slightly yellower and lighter than seal, slightly redder and lighter than sepia brown, and very slightly yellower and paler than lama