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Bolas (fromSpanishbola, "ball", also known asboleadoras) are a throwingweapon made of weights on the ends of interconnectedcords, designed to capture animals byentangling their legs. They are used by thegauchos inSouth America today, but have been found inexcavations of pre-Hispanicsettlements, especially inPatagonia, where indigenous peoples used them to catchguanaco andñandu.
Gauchos use boleadoras to capture runningcattle orgame. The thrower gives the ballsmomentum by swinging them and then releases the boledoras. The weapon is usually used to entangle the animal's legs, but when thrown with enough force might even break the bone.
There is no uniform design; most bolas have two or three balls, but there are versions of up to 8 or 9 balls. Some bolas have balls of equal weight, others vary the knot and cord. Gauchos use bolas made ofleather cords withwooden balls or small leather sacks full of stones at the ends of the cords.
Bolas can be named depending on the amount of weights used:
