aurochs

n. large European wild ox, bison

See Ur (rune) for the rune. The aurochs or urus (Bos primigenius) is a very large, extinct type of cattle, originally prevalent in Europe. The animal's original scientific name, Bos primigenius, was meant as a Latin translation of the German term Auerochse or Urochs, which was (possibly incorrectly) interpreted as literally meaning "primeval ox" or "proto-ox". This scientific name is now considered invalid by ITIS, who classify aurochs under Bos taurus, the same species as domestic cattle. However, in 2003, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature "conserved the usage of 17 specific names based on wild species, which are pre-dated by or contemporary with those based on domestic forms", confirming Bos primigenius for the Aurochs. Taxonomists who consider domesticated cattle a subspecies of the wild Aurochs should use B. primigenius taurus; the name B. taurus remains available for domestic cattle where it is considered to be a separate species.
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Noun
1. European bison having a smaller and higher head than the North American bison
(synonym) wisent, Bison bonasus
(hypernym) bison
(member-holonym) genus Bison
2. large recently extinct long-horned European wild ox; considered one of the ancestors of domestic cattle
(synonym) urus, Bos primigenius
(hypernym) ox, wild ox
(member-holonym) Bos, genus Bos

n. aurochs

(n.)
The European bison (Bison bonasus, ~ Europaeus), once widely distributed, but now nearly extinct, except where protected in the Lithuanian forests, and perhaps in the Caucasus. It is distinct from the Urus of Caesar, with which it has often been confused.