boa
/ˈbəʊə
/noun
1A constrictor snake which bears live young and may reach great size, native to America, Africa, Asia, and some Pacific islands.
- Family Boidae, several genera and numerous species. See also boa constrictor.
- They will include pythons, cobras, sand boas, snakes and monitor lizards.
- Examples of such dwarfism or gigantism include the giant tortoises of the Seychelles islands, Indonesia's Komodo dragons, and the boas of the Belizean Snake Cayes.
1.1(In general use) any snake which is a constrictor.Their analysis also indicated, however, that the two snakes were not primitive ancestors, but advanced snakes similar to modern boas and pythons....
- They are also preyed upon by mammalian predators such as cats, and by snakes such as boas and anacondas.
- Non-venomous snakes like boas and pythons grab their prey and squeeze them to death.
2 (also feather boa) A long, thin decorative scarf made of feathers or a similar material, worn by women at parties or as part of fancy dress: a sequinned ballgown and feather boa...
- But instead I have gone with a more traditional flapper look, tassely little dress, feather boa, long black gloves, cigarette holder, fishnet stockings.
- She is always dressing up with feather boas and high heels.
- There was a feather boa around her neck as she played and I sang ‘good-bye, good-bye forever’ and it was a wonderful evening.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin (mentioned in the writings of Pliny), of unknown ultimate origin.