bolo

¹

[ boh-loh ]

noun

, plural bo·los.

1. a large, heavy, single-edged knife or machete for hacking, used in the Philippines and by the U.S. Army.

bolo

²

[ boh-loh ]

noun

, plural bo·los.

1. a soldier who does not meet the minimum standards of marksmanship.
2. a clumsy or incompetent soldier.

verb (used without object)

, bo·loed, bo·lo·ing.

1. to fail to meet the minimum standards of marksmanship.

bolo

³

[ boh-loh ]

noun

1. bolo tie.

BOLO

⁴

[ boh-loh ]

abbreviation for

1. be on the lookout: an instruction or warning to law enforcement personnel, or sometimes to the general public, to be watchful for the appearance of a criminal suspect or criminal activity:

   The police issued a BOLO at 2:14 p.m., just moments after the robbery was reported.

bolo

/ ˈbəʊləʊ /

noun

1. a large single-edged knife, originating in the Philippines

Word History and Origins

Origin of bolo¹

First recorded in 1900–05; from Philippine Spanish; further origin uncertain

Origin of bolo²

First recorded in 1915–20; said to be after Bolo Pascha (died 1918), German agent in France during World War I

Origin of bolo³

First recorded in 1975–80

Word History and Origins

Origin of bolo¹

Philippine Spanish, probably from a native word

Example Sentences

Whatever you do, do not leave Madeira without trying their typical bread, bolo do caco.

From The Daily Beast

The home was about 30 feet from the ocean and the nearest stores and restaurants were a five-minute drive so bolo do caco was easily accessible.

From The Daily Beast

Shulman said he learned about the existence of a BOLO list, a police term for “be on the lookout for,” in the spring of 2012.

From The Daily Beast

Then rumors swirled Wednesday that Dutschke had skipped town, and the cops had a BOLO (be on the lookout) for his van.

From The Daily Beast

In his bolo tie and cowboy hat, Coleman was not afraid to offer this un-PC lyric: “Hey Indian dude … don’t cope a ‘tude.”

From The Daily Beast

Its clothing hung on it in tatters, and the exposed flesh was bolo-gashed and briar-torn.

From Project Gutenberg

The dead man bore no bolo gashes, and the wound which had disabled him had been only a bullet through one shoulder.

From Project Gutenberg

Haciendas of loyal Spaniards and Ilacanos were raided, and their people put to the bolo.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon a table was placed a skull, a loaded revolver and a bolo.

From Project Gutenberg

His companion, a young woman in a long fur coat, was laying about her with a native bolo-knife.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bayonet
• blade
• cutter
• dagger
• machete
• scalpel
• sickle
• skewer
• sword