Bóaire was a title given to a member of medieval and earlier Gaelic societies prior to the introductions of English law

English law

English law is the legal system of England and Wales, and is the basis of common law legal systems used in most Commonwealth countries and the United States except Louisiana...

 according to Early Irish law. The terms means a "Cow lord". Despite this a Bóaire was a "free-holder", and ranked below the noble grades but above the unfree. He would own a share of land, which he inherited from members of his kin and which he could not alienate

Alienation (property law)

Alienation, in property law, is the capacity for a piece of property or a property right to be sold or otherwise transferred from one party to another. Although property is generally deemed to be alienable, it may be subject to restraints on alienation....

without his kin's approval. He would normally have cattle given to him by a lord in exchange for entering into a clientship relationship.

Some texts give a number of different sub ranks such are the ócaire, young lord, and Mruighfer, land man which was the highest non-noble rank..

Despite lacking an actual noble title, a limited number of bóaire could have noble rank in fact either as the head of their kin group, or by performing services or acquiring wealth double that of a normal lord.