Also 5 boua, 5–6 boas, 6 boath. Pl. boas (occas. in Lat. form boæ). [a. L. boa (Pliny, N.H., VIII. xiv), of unknown origin: Pliny and St. Jerome derived it from bos an ox, for different reasons.]
1. Zool. A genus of serpents native to the tropical parts of S. America, distinguished for their large size and immense muscular strength. They are destitute of poison fangs, and kill their prey by constriction or compression. Popularly the name is extended to all the large serpents of similar habits, including the Pythons of the Old World.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. ix. (1495), 759. Enidris that is a water adder … many men call it Boua, for the dyrte of an oxe is remedy therfore. Ibid., 761. Boas … hath that name Boas of Bos: an oxe … and settyth hymselfe gylefully to the vdders of the beestys that ben full of mylke and suckyth and sleeth them.
1623. Cockeram, III. Boa, a Serpent of that bignesse, that being found dead, there was a childe found whole in his belly.
1804. Phil. Trans., XCIV. 71. I was shown … in the Hunterian Museum, two colubers, and three boæ.
1815. Moore, Lalla R., Veiled Proph., III. Not the gaunt lion’s hug, nor boa’s clasp.
1836. Penny Cycl., V. 20/2. The Boæ have a spur on each side of the vent.
1860. Gosse, Rom. Nat. Hist., 123. The American species belonging to the genus Boa, and those of Africa and Asia to Python.
fig. 1822. W. Irving, Braceb. Hall (1849), 93. It was the lion of trees perishing in the embraces of a vegetable boa.
† 2. Her. The representation of a serpent used as a device or portion of a ‘charge.’ Obs.
1572. Bossewell, Armorie, II. 63. P. beareth, Gold, a Boath, Sable, betwene two barres Gemewes Azure. ‘Boas’ is a Snake in Italie, great of bodye.
3. A snake-like coil of fur worn by ladies as a wrapper for the throat.
1836. Dickens, Sk. Boz (1850), 225/1. Ladies’ boas, from one shilling and a penny half-penny.
1837. Hawthorne, Twice-told T. (1851), II. xii. 190. Red cheeks set off by quilted hoods, boas, and sable capes.
1870. Yeats, Nat. Hist. Comm., 276. The tail is used in the manufacture of boas.
4. Comb., as boa-form a., of the shape of a boa.
1849. Mrs. Somerville, Phys. Geog. (1862), 459. Known species of serpents … Fresh-water 33, Boaform 15.
Hence Boa’d ppl. a., provided with, or wearing a lady’s boa.
1831. Blackw. Mag., XXX. 967. Furred, muffed, and boa’d, Mrs. Gentle adventures abroad.
