A weapon consisting of weights on the ends of interconnected ropes or cords, thrown to entangle animals or people, used historically in South America and other regions.
From Spanish/Portuguese 'bola' (literally 'ball'), referring to the weighted balls at the ends of the throwing cords. The weapon was used by gauchos in Argentina and other South American hunters.
The 'bola' is a perfect example of how practical tools become named by their most obvious feature—Spanish speakers looked at this hunting weapon and just called it 'the balls,' and that simple name stuck in English too!
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