water buffalo

American  

[waw-ter buhf-uh-loh, wot-er] / ˈwɔ tər ˌbʌf ə loʊ, ˈwɒt ər /

noun

1. a domesticated buffalo, Bubalus bubalis, of tropical Asia, having large, flattened, curved horns.

2. a very large wild buffalo, Bubalus arnee, of the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia, having large, flattened, curved horns and frequenting swamps and rivers: currently endangered.

---

water buffalo British  

noun

1. Also called: Asiatic buffalo.   Indian buffalo.   carabao.  a member of the cattle tribe, Bubalus bubalis, of swampy regions of S Asia, having widely spreading back-curving horns. Domesticated forms are used as draught animals

---

Etymology

Origin of water buffalo

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

water buffalo

Despite widespread local restrictions on the industry, India is one of the world's largest beef producers, due primarily to its water buffalo market - a species which is exempt from many of the bans.

From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2024

And until 2022, Colorado was raising water buffalo for milk that was sold to giant mozzarella cheesemaker Leprino Foods, which supplies major pizza companies like Domino’s, Pizza Hut and Papa John’s.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 29, 2024

Pest population management is routinely carried out in Australia for large hooved animals, including deer, pigs, goats, camels and water buffalo.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 8, 2023

In the nearby district of Umm Khashm, the number of water buffalo decreased from 15,000 to 9,000 over five years, said local mayor, Meshtaq Sebar.

From Reuters ● Jul. 20, 2023

Milked mammals include the cow, sheep, goat, horse, reindeer, water buffalo, yak, and Arabian and Bactrian camels.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond