Part 854

And for the good old cause stood buff, 'Gainst many a bitter kick and cuff. Hudibras.

||Buf"fa (&?;), n. fem. (Mus.) [It. See Buffoon.] The comic actress in an opera. -- a. Comic, farcical.

Aria buffa, a droll or comic air. -- Opera buffa, a comic opera. See Opera bouffe.

Buf"fa*lo (&?;), n.; pl. Buffaloes (&?;). [Sp. bufalo (cf. It. bufalo, F. buffle), fr. L. bubalus, bufalus, a kind of African stag or gazelle; also, the buffalo or wild ox, fr. Gr. &?; buffalo, prob. fr. &?; ox. See Cow the animal, and cf. Buff the color, and Bubale.] 1. (Zoöl.) A species of the genus Bos or Bubalus (B. bubalus), originally from India, but now found in most of the warmer countries of the eastern continent. It is larger and less docile than the common ox, and is fond of marshy places and rivers.

2. (Zoöl.) A very large and savage species of the same genus (B. Caffer) found in South Africa; -- called also Cape buffalo.

3. (Zoöl.) Any species of wild ox.

4. (Zoöl.) The bison of North America.

5. A buffalo robe. See Buffalo robe, below.

6. (Zoöl.) The buffalo fish. See Buffalo fish, below.

Buffalo berry (Bot.), a shrub of the Upper Missouri (Sherherdia argentea) with acid edible red berries. -- Buffalo bird (Zoöl.), an African bird of the genus Buphaga, of two species. These birds perch upon buffaloes and cattle, in search of parasites. -- Buffalo bug, the carpet beetle. See under Carpet. -- Buffalo chips, dry dung of the buffalo, or bison, used for fuel. [U.S.] -- Buffalo clover (Bot.), a kind of clover (Trifolium reflexum and T.soloniferum) found in the ancient grazing grounds of the American bison. -- Buffalo cod (Zoöl.), a large, edible, marine fish (Ophiodon elongatus) of the northern Pacific coast; -- called also blue cod, and cultus cod. -- Buffalo fish (Zoöl.), one of several large fresh-water fishes of the family Catostomidæ, of the Mississippi valley. The red-mouthed or brown (Ictiobus bubalus), the big-mouthed or black (Bubalichthys urus), and the small-mouthed (B. altus), are among the more important species used as food. -- Buffalo fly, or Buffalo gnat (Zoöl.), a small dipterous insect of the genus Simulium, allied to the black fly of the North. It is often extremely abundant in the lower part of the Mississippi valley and does great injury to domestic animals, often killing large numbers of cattle and horses. In Europe the Columbatz fly is a species with similar habits. -- Buffalo grass (Bot.), a species of short, sweet grass (Buchloë dactyloides), from two to four inches high, covering the prairies on which the buffaloes, or bisons, feed. [U.S.] -- Buffalo nut (Bot.), the oily and drupelike fruit of an American shrub (Pyrularia oleifera); also, the shrub itself; oilnut. -- Buffalo robe, the skin of the bison of North America, prepared with the hair on; -- much used as a lap robe in sleighs.

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Buf"fel duck (bf"fl dk`). [See Buffalo.] (Zoöl.) A small duck (Charitonetta albeola); the spirit duck, or butterball. The head of the male is covered with numerous elongated feathers, and thus appears large. Called also bufflehead.

Buff"er (bf"r), n. [Prop a striker. See Buffet a blow.] 1. (Mech.) (a) An elastic apparatus or fender, for deadening the jar caused by the collision of bodies; as, a buffer at the end of a railroad car. (b) A pad or cushion forming the end of a fender, which receives the blow; -- sometimes called buffing apparatus.

2. One who polishes with a buff.

3. A wheel for buffing; a buff.

4. A good-humored, slow-witted fellow; -- usually said of an elderly man. [Colloq.] Dickens.

Buff"er*head` (&?;), n. The head of a buffer, which recieves the concussion, in railroad carriages.

Buf*fet" (bf*f"), n. [F. buffet, LL. bufetum; of uncertain origin; perh. fr. the same source as E. buffet a blow, the root meaning to puff, hence (cf. puffed up) the idea of ostentation or display.] 1. A cupboard or set of shelves, either movable or fixed at one side of a room, for the display of plate, china, etc., a sideboard.

Not when a gilt buffet's reflected pride Turns you from sound philosophy aside. Pope.

2. A counter for refreshments; a restaurant at a railroad station, or place of public gathering.

Buf"fet (bf"ft), n. [OE. buffet, boffet, OF. buffet a slap in the face, a pair of bellows, fr. buffe blow, cf. F. bouffer to blow, puff; prob. akin to E. puff. For the meaning slap, blow, cf. F. soufflet a slap, souffler to blow. See Puff, v. i., and cf. Buffet sidebroad, Buffoon] 1. A blow with the hand; a slap on the face; a cuff.

When on his cheek a buffet fell. Sir W. Scott.

2. A blow from any source, or that which affects like a blow, as the violence of winds or waves; a stroke; an adverse action; an affliction; a trial; adversity.

Those planks of tough and hardy oak that used for yeas to brave the buffets of the Bay of Biscay. Burke.

Fortune's buffets and rewards. Shak.

3. A small stool; a stool for a buffet or counter.

Go fetch us a light buffet. Townely Myst.

Buf"fet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Buffeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Buffeting.] [OE. buffeten, OF. buffeter. See the preceding noun.] 1. To strike with the hand or fist; to box; to beat; to cuff; to slap.