buffalo chip
Definition
Noun: A piece of dried bovine dung, specifically from a bison. This term historically refers to the dried dung of the American bison, which was used as fuel by settlers and pioneers on the Great Plains.
Usage
This is a compound noun. It is used as a countable noun to refer to a single, distinct piece of dried dung. The term is specific and descriptive, often used in historical or regional contexts.
Examples
- Early settlers on the prairie collected buffalo chips to burn for heat and cooking.
- The children were sent to gather a basket of buffalo chips for the fire.
- A single buffalo chip can burn with a hot, relatively smokeless flame.
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in historical narratives, descriptions of pioneer life, or in discussions about traditional uses of natural resources. It is less common in modern everyday language.
- It can be used metaphorically to describe something of low value or as a rustic, humble fuel source.
Variants and Related Words
- Cow chip (n): A more modern and general term for dried cattle dung, often used interchangeably but technically from domestic cattle rather than bison.
- Dung (n): The general term for the excrement of animals.
- Manure (n): Animal dung used especially for fertilizing land.
Synonyms
- Dung cake
- Prairie coal (historical slang)
- Bois de vache (French term used by explorers and traders, meaning "cow wood")
Related Phrases
- Chip fire: A fire fueled by dried dung chips.
- To chip in: (Idiom, unrelated) This common phrasal verb meaning "to contribute" is not etymologically related to "buffalo chip."
Noun
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a piece of dried bovine dung
