Word Study
bolas (root: bola)
CIDE DICTIONARY
bolas, n. sing. & pl. [Sp.].
A kind of missile weapon consisting of one, two, or more balls of stone, iron, or other material, attached to the ends of a leather cord; -- used by the Gauchos of South America, and others, for hurling at and entangling an animal. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
bolas, n. (as sing. or pl.) (esp. in S. America) a missile consisting of a number of balls connected by strong cord, which when thrown entangles the limbs of the quarry.
Etymology
Sp. & Port., pl. of bola ball
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