bufus

== Latin == === Alternative forms === *gūfus === Etymology === Onomatopoeic most likely, based on būbō (“owl”). Possibly explainable as a borrowing from a non-Latin Italic substrate, or from Ancient Greek βοῦφος (boûphos, “eagle owl”). Alternatively subject to a dissimilation of the /b/ also found in Latin būbalus > Italian bufalo; Latin bubulcus > Italian bifolco. Compare also Latin terrae tuber > Italian tartufo. Attested in a late gloss. === Noun === būfus m (genitive būfī); second declension (Late Latin) owl ==== Declension ==== Second-declension noun. ==== Descendants ==== Balkan Romance: Aromanian: buf, bufu, bufã Megleno-Romanian: buf Romanian: buf, bufă → Albanian: buf → Byzantine Greek: μποῦφος (mpoûphos) Greek: μπούφος (boúfos) Ibero-Romance: Old Galician-Portuguese: bufo Galician: bufo Portuguese: bufo Old Spanish: bufo, buho Spanish: búho and see: *gūfus === References ===