Where did the word bison come from?

The word "bison" has a fascinating history, tracing its roots back to ancient Greek and Latin:

* Ancient Greek: The word "bous" (βοῦς) meant "ox" or "cow."

* Latin: From "bous," the Latin word "bis" (plural "bōvēs") emerged, also meaning "ox" or "cow."

Through various linguistic transformations, the word "bison" evolved:

* Middle English: The word "bison" was introduced into Middle English from Latin, initially referring to the European bison.

* Modern English: The modern word "bison" became established, referring to both the European bison and the American bison.

Interestingly, the word "buffalo" was originally used for the water buffalo in Asia. It later came to be used for the American bison, likely due to its resemblance to the water buffalo. Today, "buffalo" is often used interchangeably with "bison" in North America, though technically, they are different species.