Meaning & use

bolo

noun·Academic

A large, heavy single-edged knife used in the Philippines for farming, cutting brush, and self-defense.

See it in a sentence

The farmer used his bolo to clear thick brush along the edge of the field.

During the uprising, villagers armed themselves with bolos and whatever else they could find.

A note on using this word

Do not confuse lowercase 'bolo' with the police radio term BOLO, an acronym for 'be on the lookout.'

Words with a similar meaning

machete

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

A cord necktie fastened with a decorative clasp, often associated with the American Southwest.

He wore a silver bolo tie with turquoise stones to the country music awards.

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