Question: Baruffio and the buffalo

[scoutmom21113]

No: HPFGUIDX 90233

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "nkafkafi" <nkafkafi at y...> 
wrote:
> Since English is not my mother tongue, I always suspect I'm 
missing 
> puns and clues in HP. It took me two years to realize there is a 
pun 
> in "Diagon Alley" <hang head in shame>. Now, could someone please 
> explain to me (slowly, with diagrams) if there is a pun in:
> 
> SS/PS, Ch. 10:
> "Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been 
practicing!" 
> squeaked Professor Flitwick, perched on top of his pile of books 
as 
> usual. "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the 
> magic words properly is very important, too – never forget Wizard 
> Baruffio, who said `s' instead of `f' and found himself on the 
floor 
> with a buffalo on his chest."
> 
> I would have thought that the editors got it mixed up as usual and 
it 
> actually should have written "said `f' instead of `s' ", but what 
the 
> @$#& is a "bussalo"??? Do we need a Latin expert here?
> 
> Thanks,
> Neri

According to the dictionary.com/translate page, 'bussalo' is Italian 
for 'it knocks'.  I wonder what Wizard Baruffio was really trying to 
do...?
Ravenclaw Bookworm