Boles

Boles is the plural form of bole, a term with multiple meanings across disciplines. In forestry and botany, a bole is the trunk or main stem of a tree, the portion from the base to the first major branching. The bole is the primary structural component that supports the crown and carries the growth rings, and it is a key focus in timber valuation and studies of tree form and health.

In the arts and materials, bole refers to a red clay pigment used as a ground for painting, gilding, and ceramics. Bole pigments are valued for their smooth texture and color range, which can span from brick red to deep crimson. They are traditionally applied as an underlayer on plaster, wood, or porcelain before gilding with gold leaf or applying glaze.

Boles also appears as a proper noun in names. It is used as a surname and can appear in various geographic or historical contexts as part of place names or other designation.