English Explanatory Dictionary

boa

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of a group of large American snakes, of the genus Boa, subfamily Boinae, or family Boidae, including the boa constrictor and the emperor boa of Mexico.
  2. A type of long scarf; typically made from synthetic or real feathers (or occasionally fur), and usually worn by being draped across the shoulders with the ends hanging low, sometimes also with a loop around the neck.
noun
  1. A member of a Bwa-speaking ethnic group of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
noun
  1. Abbreviation of basin of attraction; the gravitational center of a supercluster of galaxies; a Great Attractor.

Pronunciation

/ˈbəʊ.ə/ /bɔː/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-boa.wav /ˈboʊ.ə/

Word forms

boa boas boæ

Etymology

From Middle English boa, from Latin boa (“large snake”), a species of serpent mentioned in Pliny's Naturalis Historia (Natural History). The scarf was named attributively, for its resemblance to the snake when worn.

Synonyms

Ababua

Related words

Boa

Derived words

banana boa boaed emerald tree boa feather boa javelin sand boa northern eyelash boa rainbow boa rosy boa rubber boa sand boa tree boa water boa
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