Eggcorn Forum

The boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) is one of those rare species that has the same common and species names. It was named by Linnaeus based on some of the exciting Natural History of Pliny the Elder (the Podictionary has a nice piece on the etymology here).

The constrictor part is easy to understand, referring to the practice of wrapping its thick body around its victim, and then suffocating it by patient tightening of the coils each time the victim exhales. That probably softens the thing up a bit too, I guess. The Boa genus name derives from the claim that these reptiles can get so big that they can swallow bulls (genus Bos). A later Natural History entry from St. Isidore toned the story down. Although they still attacked herds of cattle, they merely attached themselves to the udders of lactating cows, and proceeded to suck them to death.

The boa constrictor is a popular pet. Imaginative new images for them include the bow constrictor (for tyng itself into bows?), the bone constrictor (pretty clear) and the boat constrictor (for snakes of all types that fall or climb into your boat in the swamps).

Pet show and tell:
my pet is this lusifer he is a baby bow constrictor the little guy in the picture hes my pride and joy and realy fun to play with suprisingly hes a realy gentle animal and never strikes or bites
(http://www.superpokepets.com/spp/playgr … 49pbAyWIFg)

Fluffy version:
Noah always had a large fairly odious looking fuzzy snake. It was his favourite fluffy toy and one that had to go every where with him. He has now outgrown this but my fondest memory of him is when he first introduced me to it. “Gran, my snake is called Romeo, he is a bone constrictor”
(http://blogs.24.com/ViewComments.aspx?m … 8875013976)

slow-mo of mousetrap hitting cracker:
That poor cracker!! It’s like a freakin’ bone constrictor that cracker didn’t stand a chance!
(http://kellyjane.deviantart.com/art/Mou … ?offset=40)

Unsafe pets:
Earlier this month, a suburban Cincinnati man died when his boat constrictor wrapped itself around his neck and strangled him.
(http://media.herald-dispatch.com/blog/t … chive.html)

Texas fishin’ forum:
Yea, it’s a boat constrictor. They especially like to eat bass fishermen for breakfast. Don’t let one of them buggers in your bass boat or you’ve had it. They migrated up Cental America from Panama about ten years ago by hitching a ride up in a Peacock fishermans rig.
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We’ve had quite a few want to get in the boat with us (if they did not fall off an overhanging limb 1st) here in the swamp. They usually are following a scent trail laid down from a livewell overflow or a stringer of fish over the side…Sometimes they’re mighty hungry
(http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubb … /1560746/3)
Might be a fish story?