buffalo soldier
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of buffalo soldier
An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; from the kinky hair, thought by the Indians to resemble that of a buffalo
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In World War II, Dasani’s great-grandfather was a buffalo soldier, a term that Native Americans used in the 19th century to describe Black troops, and one that stuck.
From Washington Post • Dec. 2, 2021
“The buffalo soldier story is such an untold story about people who were mistreated, but still showed a great love for America,” she said.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 18, 2014
Emanuel Stance, a buffalo soldier and Medal of Honor recipient, has stood in Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Neb., for over a century.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 18, 2014
Isaiah Mays, another buffalo soldier, was moved to Arlington from the graveyard in Arizona.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 18, 2014
Lettie Smith, 91 , the daughter of a buffalo soldier, remarks with almost aggressive matter-of-factness: "There is no better place to live in Texas."
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
