boa

American  

[boh-uh] / ˈboʊ ə /

noun

• boas
  plural

1. any of several nonvenomous, chiefly tropical constrictors of the family Boidae, having vestigial hind limbs at the base of the tail.

2. a scarf or stole of feathers, fur, or fabric.

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boa British  

/ ˈbəʊə /

noun

1. any large nonvenomous snake of the family Boidae , most of which occur in Central and South America and the Caribbean. They have vestigial hind limbs and kill their prey by constriction

2. a woman's long thin scarf, usually of feathers or fur

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• boas
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of boa

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: water adder

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Explanation

A boa is a type of snake that squeezes its prey. It's also a fluffy, feathered, colorful scarf. Don't confuse the two and wear a snake as a scarf! There are two types of boas: one is usually dangerous, and one is sometimes fashionable. The boa is a type of enormous serpent (also known as a boa constrictor) that squeezes its victims to death. Boas are mainly found in tropical regions. If you see a boa outside a zoo, you're in deep trouble. The other type of boa is more silly than scary: it's a long thin scarf that has either feathers or fur. If you are shopping for a boa, try to avoid coming home with the reptilian variety.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

boa boas

Now, two years later, Harry Styles walks onto that same floor in pearls and a feather boa, singing about tenderness and change and wanting.

From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026

Powell compared China’s naval strategy around Taiwan to that of a boa constrictor, moving slowly to overpower its rival, rather than striking dramatically as a viper might.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026

SGA, the stylish, maddening, smooth-operating Canadian point guard, is the head of the boa constrictor.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026

Dame Karen stood out in the largely male and often stale world of Washington in her colourful tailor-made suits, occasionally complemented with a feather boa.

From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2025

Hadn’t he set a boa constrictor on him?

From "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling

Using powerful microscopes, the researchers discovered that species such as ball pythons, Angolan pythons, and Madagascan tree boas produce urates made up of tiny textured spheres between 1 and 10 micrometers across.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2025

We went out back and put boas on and we had our moment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2025

“I have advice for you. How about put some wigs on, get some boas, and go have real fun.”

From Salon ● May 2, 2024

In a theater full of black tuxedos and low-key fashion, their feathers, sequins, boas and sky-high hair styles are standouts.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 15, 2024

There were pieces that looked as if they belonged in the Middle Ages, dresses covered in lace and golden thread, feather boas, jackets covered in stripes, canes with metal heads, robes fit for Merlin himself.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

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Related Words

• bandanna
• shawl
• stole

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