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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Etymology

Origin of ankus

1885–90; < Hindi; akin to angle ²

Example Sentences

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

The elephant appeared to understand the mixture of Hindu, French, and Breton—or perhaps it was the sight of the steel ankus that Speed flourished in his quality of mahout.

From The Maids of Paradise by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)

Then I shall sit on thy neck, O Kala Nag, with a silver ankus, and men will run before us with golden sticks, crying, `Room for the King's elephant!'

From The Jungle Book by Kipling, Rudyard

Whether this slight prod of the mahout's ankus was, or was not, intentional, it is not easy to say, but it took instant effect upon the Big Doctor.

From Mount Music by Ross, Martin

It was plain to see that the elephant had felt the prick of the Mahout's ankus.

From Mount Music by Ross, Martin