Boa: the genus of the noun and its meaning

The word "boa" has traditionally two meanings. The first is a large snake from the clan of boas, which feeds on small animals, swallowing them completely. The second meaning of the word is a long fluffy fur scarf or a cape for women. The latter is the most common in the Russian language.

Boa: the genus of the noun and its origin

This word comes from the Latin language and is literally translated as a water snake. The genus of the word "boa" is male or medium. Everything depends on the meaning. At the moment this word is used as a designation of an animal from the reptile class, and as the name of a female accessory, for example, an ostrich boa. The genus of the noun is masculine, if we speak of the name of the boa constrictor.

If we are talking about a scarf, then there are two options for the word "boa". The genus of the noun in this case is average, but it is permissible to use it in the male. This noun may be depending on the meaning of both animate and inanimate. This word refers to the zero type of declension according to the typology of the philologist A. Zaliznyak. That is, it does not lean on cases, since it is borrowed from the French language, from which it fell into Russian. The word "boa" does not have a plural. The genus of the noun, therefore, is quite simple to remember.

History of the Ostrich Scarf

The cape of feathers was first used as a complement and decoration of the image from about the beginning of the nineteenth century. Basically it was the clothes of aristocrats and elite. Boa entered and went out of fashion for many eras. This scarf had a reputation for elegance, but was also sometimes seen as a very mannered and vulgar garment.

Historical era, when the cape of feathers was at the peak of popularity:

• The end of the Victorian era and the times of King Edward (between 1890 and 1915).
• In the 1920's.
• In the 70s, during the heyday of glam rock and disco music of the ages.
• In the late 1990s and early 21st century.

Who wore the boa?

Artists have long been using this accessory as part of their image. Boa was worn by the following famous personalities: dancer Isadora Duncan, singer Shirley Bessie, actors Mae West and Jesse Ventura, Hollywood superstars Billy Graham and Hulk Hogan. American singers Scott Weiland, Celia Cruz, Cher, Mark Bolan, Gerard Way, Elton John and many other artists also gave their preference to the ostrich scarf. This accessory looks stylish today and gives its owner a special charm.