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bolo knife

bolo knife

7.9
A long heavy tool with one sharp edge used for cutting plants and wood
  • noun
  • /ˈboʊloʊ naɪf/
  • Philippine
translation icon : machete bolo
  • He admired the craftsmanship of the ornate bolo knife displayed at the museum.

Examples

  • He used a bolo knife to cut the thick vines.

  • Farmers in the Philippines often use a bolo knife to clear thick brush from fields.

  • The soldier demonstrated how to sharpen a bolo knife before their jungle training exercise.

  • The bolo knife is essential for farming in rural areas.

  • The farmer skillfully used his bolo knife to cut through thick vegetation.

  • During the festival, traditional dancers showcased their skills with bolo knives in a lively performance.

  • When hiking in the jungle, it is useful to carry a bolo knife for clearing the path ahead.

Synonyms

knife
vsbolo knife
  • NSFW
1.0

A tool with a sharp blade and handle used for cutting or as a weapon

is a specific long heavy single-edged traditional farming and fighting blade
bolo
vsbolo knife
7 9.7

A long heavy knife used for cutting plants and wood

is the longer form used to name the same tool including its function
barong
vsbolo knife
  • Philippine
9.9

A heavy knife with a wide blade used for chopping wood or meat

is longer and single-edged rather than broad and cleaver-like

How Heavy

sword
1.0
machete
63 5.7
bolo knife
  • Philippine
7.9
knife
  • NSFW
1.0
pocketknife
9 3.4
penknife
5 3.6

Surface Forms

bolo knife singular
bolo knives plural

Morphology

bolo + knife

The compound is fully compositional: 'bolo' denotes a specific type of heavy Filipino cutting implement and 'knife' provides the category, so together they simply name a type of knife. Despite its cultural specificity, the noun+noun formation is a common, transparent pattern that a learner who knows both constituents can readily interpret.

Etymology

Bolo knife gets its name from the Filipino word bolo, which was the name for a long, heavy blade farmers used to cut crops and clear thick brush. That's why the name now means 'a long, heavy knife used for farming or combat'.