Plural of boa; large nonvenomous snakes found in tropical regions, or long fluffy scarves made of feathers or fur worn around the shoulders.
From Latin 'boa,' possibly from an African or South American language. The word shifted from referring to the snake to the fashion accessory when feathered fashion items mimicked the snake's draping appearance.
Boa constrictors were named by the Romans, but the *boa scarf* became super fashionable in the 1800s when wealthy women wanted to show off luxury—wearing real feathered boas that cost as much as a car!
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