ankus

American  

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

noun

plural

ankus, ankuses

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

---

ankus British  

/ ˈæŋkəs /

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of ankus

1885–90; < Hindi; akin to angle ²

Example Sentences

SEE     Richards, Harvey D.   Sorak and the Sultan's ankus.

From U.S. Copyright Renewals, 1961 January - June by Library of Congress. Copyright Office

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

From Mount Music by Ross, Martin

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

I seated myself on Chota Begum's neck, put my feet in the string stirrups, and took the big ankus in my hand.

From Here, There and Everywhere by Hamilton, Frederick Spencer, Lord

All trumpeted shrilly, some planted their forefeet firmly and refused to advance, others turned and stampeded, despite the heavy blows showered on them with the iron ankus by the enraged mahouts.

From Life in an Indian Outpost by Casserly, Gordon