Bolo vs. Bolas — What's the Difference?

A long, heavy, single-edged machete originally used in the Philippines.

Bolas or bolases (singular bola; from Spanish and Portuguese bola, "ball", also known as a boleadora or boleadeira) is a type of throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of interconnected cords, used to capture animals by entangling their legs. Bolas were most famously used by the gauchos, but have been found in excavations of Pre-Columbian settlements, especially in Patagonia, where indigenous peoples (particularly the Tehuelche) used them to catch 200-pound guanacos and rheas.

A long, heavy, single-edged machete.

A rope with weights attached, used especially in South America to catch cattle or game by entangling their legs.

(attributive) a type of punch; an uppercut.

A throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of interconnected cords, designed to capture animals by entangling their legs.

A soldier not capable of the minimum standards of marksmanship.

A sticky thread whirled around by certain spiders to catch prey.

A string or leather necktie secured with an ornamental slide.

A kind of missile weapon consisting of one, two, or more balls of stone, iron, or other material, attached to the ends of a leather cord; - used by the Gauchos of South America, and others, for hurling at and entangling an animal.

A request for law enforcement officers to be on the lookout for a suspect.

To attack or despatch with a bolo knife.

To fail to meet the minimum standards of marksmanship.

To dress (somebody) in a bolo.

A kind of large knife resembling a machete.

A cord fastened around the neck with an ornamental clasp and worn as a necktie

Long heavy knife with a single edge; of Philippine origin