European bison

noun

plural European bison
: a bison (Bison bonasus) of European forests that has golden to dark brown dense fur and is slightly smaller in size than the related American bison : wisent

Note: The European bison is the largest terrestrial mammal in Europe. It became extinct in the wild in the 1920s but has since been reintroduced into some areas from captive populations.

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of European bison was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near European bison

Cite this Entry

“European bison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/European%20bison. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on European bison

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!