Buffalo can refer to two different animals and also means to confuse or intimidate someone.

1. Large, powerful animals related to cattle. The African buffalo has curved horns and lives in herds across Africa. The water buffalo lives in Asia and is often used to help farmers plow fields. What Americans commonly call buffalo are actually bison, the shaggy-headed animals that once roamed the Great Plains in massive herds of millions. True buffalo and bison are cousins but different species.
2. To confuse or intimidate someone, often by using complicated language or tricky arguments. A skilled debater might buffalo their opponent with rapid-fire facts and complex reasoning. If someone tries to buffalo you into believing something that doesn't make sense, they're hoping you'll be too confused to ask good questions. Teachers sometimes warn students not to let difficult vocabulary buffalo them on a reading test.