bolas

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a throwing weapon of connected cords and weights that entangles an animal's legs

   The rider swung the bolas overhead before releasing it toward the running guanaco.

2. 2
   noun

   a sticky silk line whirled by a bolas spider to capture flying prey

   The spider swung its bolas through the air until the adhesive tip struck a moth.

Borrowed from American Spanish bolas, the plural of Spanish bola 'ball.' The weapon was named for the stone or metal balls fixed to its cords. English uses both bola and bolas for the weapon, while bolas can also denote the similar sticky line used by certain spiders.

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