Bolo
/ˈboʊ.loʊ/noun
A short, heavy knife or machete, or a necktie knot resembling one; also used in some regional senses for a round loaf or a type of tie.
Did you know?The knife sense comes from Tagalog and related Philippine languages, where the bolo was a common tool and weapon, while the English neckwear sense is a separate later borrowing from Spanish/Portuguese-style usage.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-16th Century
Austronesian
*baliq / bolo (reconstructed regional forms)
“A large cutting blade or knife used as a tool and weapon in parts of the Philippines”
16th-19th Century
Tagalog
bolo
“A large knife or machete used for cutting vegetation and for defense”
19th Century
English
bolo
“Borrowed term for a Philippine knife or machete”
20th Century
English
bolo tie
“A necktie fastened with a decorative clasp or slide, named for its cord-and-clasp resemblance rather than the blade”