boa

[boh-uh] /ˈboʊ ə/

noun, plural boas.

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

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

Origin

1350-1400; Middle English < Latin: water adder

British Dictionary definitions for boa

boa

/ˈbəʊə/

noun

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

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

Word Origin

C19: from New Latin, from Latin: a large Italian snake, water snake

Word Origin and History for boa

late 14c., "large snake," from Latin boa, type of large serpent mentioned in Pliny's "Natural History;" origin unknown (in Middle English folk etymology associated with Greek bous "ox"). Extension to "snake-like coil of fur worn by ladies" is from 1836. Boa constrictor so called from 1788.

boa in Technology

Basic Object Adapter

[IBM] Any one of the fat cables that lurk under the floor in a dinosaur pen. Possibly so called because they display a ferocious life of their own when you try to lay them straight and flat after they have been coiled for some time. It is rumored within IBM that channel cables for the 370 are limited to 200 feet because beyond that length the boas get dangerous --- and it is worth noting that one of the major cable makers uses the trademark "Anaconda".
[Jargon File]

Related Abbreviations for boa

BOA

basic ordering agreement
beginning of activity