aboma
/əˈbəʊmə/Now rare
noun
Any of various very large constricting snakes of tropical America. Also †aboma-snake.
- Sometimes identified with the rainbow boa, Epicrates cenchria (e.g. in the Penny Cycl. (1836), cited by N.E.D.), or the boa constrictor, Boa constrictor, but the name has been applied to various species, and Stedman's description would better fit the green anaconda, Eunectes murinus..
Origin
Late 18th century; earliest use found in John Stedman (1744–1797), army officer and author. From Sranan abóma (from Fante aboma kind of large constricting snake), perhaps via French aboma.