ankus

American  

[ang-kuhs, uhng-kuhsh] / ˈæŋ kəs, ˈʌŋ kəʃ /

noun

ankuses plural

1. an elephant goad of India with a spike and a hook at one end.

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ankus British  

/ ˈæŋkəs /

noun

1. a stick used, esp in India, for goading elephants

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• ankuses
  plural
• ankus
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ankus

1885–90; < Hindi; akin to angle ²

Example Sentences

Deesa handed Chihun the heavy ankus, the iron elephant- goad.

From Life's Handicap by Kipling, Rudyard

When at last we got her near Dundora, the latter's mahout, viciously belabouring her thick skull with the ankus, told us that the cause of her fright was only a small pariah dog.

From Life in an Indian Outpost by Casserly, Gordon

But his keeper gently pricked him with a sharp hook, called an "ankus," and to get away from the prick, which was like the bite of a big fly, Umboo stepped out and walked away.

From Umboo, the Elephant by Garis, Howard Roger

This surprised Dermont, for an elephant's skull is so thick that a blow even from the ankus or iron goad used to drive it, is scarcely felt.

From The Elephant God by Casserly, Gordon

Deesa handed Chihun the heavy ankus, the iron elephant-goad.

From The Kipling Reader Selections from the Books of Rudyard Kipling by Kipling, Rudyard