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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of water buffalo

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

water buffalo

The water buffalo “freaked” out when O'Brien was sitting on it and “tossed” him into the air before O'Brien fell and landed on his hip on the cement floor.

From Salon ● Apr. 14, 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 addition to the lack of water, a drastic decline in crop production and a rise in the price of fodder has left farmers struggling to feed water buffalo.

From Reuters ● Jul. 20, 2023

A large muddy water buffalo, led by a boy perhaps a year or two older than Minli, wandered through and was ignored as a commonplace occurrence.

From "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin