▪ I. ‖ bolas, n. pl.
(ˈbolas)
Also used as a sing., with pl. bolases.
[Sp. (and Pg.): pl. of bola ball; used in S. America in sense given.]
A missile, used by the Patagonians and other S. American peoples, consisting of two or more balls or stones connected together by strong cord; these are swung round the head and discharged at the animal to be captured, so as to wind round and entangle it.
| 1843 Carlyle Misc. (1857) IV. 270 Flourishing their nooses and bolases. 1860 Gosse Rom. Nat. Hist. 201 The Guachos are able to entangle them [birds] with the bolas or weighted cord. 1865 Lubbock Preh. Times 430 The weapons which are most characteristic of the Patagonians..are the bolas. 1874 Boutell Arms & Arm. vi. 87 The Patagonians of Southern South America have the Bola and the Lasso. |
▪ II. bolas
obs. form of bullace.