bola

bo·la

[boh-luh]
noun, plural bo·las [boh-luhz] .
1.
Also, bolas. a weapon consisting of two or more heavy balls secured to the ends of one or more strong cords, hurled by the Indians and gauchos of southern South America to entangle the legs of cattle and other animals.

Origin:
1835–45; < Spanish: ball < Old Provençal < Latin bulla bubble, knob; see boil1

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World English Dictionary
bola or bolas (ˈbəʊlə, ˈbəʊləs) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n , pl -las, -lases
a missile used by gauchos and Indians of South America, consisting of two or more heavy balls on a cord. It is hurled at a running quarry, such as an ox or rhea, so as to entangle its legs
 
[Spanish: ball, from Latin bulla knob]
 
bolas or bolas
 
n
 
[Spanish: ball, from Latin bulla knob]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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00:10
Bola is always a great word to know.
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia

bola

(Spanish: "balls"; from boleadoras), South American Indian weapon, primarily used for hunting, consisting of stone balls, usually in a group of three, attached to long, slender ropes. In hunting rhea, guanaco, and other animals in open country, the bola is whirled like a sling, then thrown parallel to the ground to entwine the quarry's legs. Bolas were also used by the gauchos of Argentina and Uruguay to catch cattle.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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