— bisontine /buy"seuhn tuyn', -zeuhn-/ , adj.
/buy"seuhn, -zeuhn/ , n. , pl. bison .
1. Also called American bison, American buffalo . a North American, oxlike ruminant, Bison bison, having a large head and high, humped shoulders: formerly common in North America, its small remaining population in isolated western areas of the U.S. and Canada is now protected.
2. Also called wisent . a related animal, Bison bonasus, of Europe, less shaggy and slightly larger than the American bison: now greatly reduced in number.
Cf. buffalo .
[ 1350-1400; ME bisontes (pl.) bison ) wisunt, OE wesend, ON visundr ]