mahout

[ muh-hout ]

/ məˈhaʊt /

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noun

the keeper or driver of an elephant, especially in India and the East Indies.

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Origin of mahout

1655–65; <Hindi mahāut, variant of mahāvat; compare Prakrit mahāmatta,Sanskrit mahāmatra elephant driver

Words nearby mahout

Mahomet, Mahometan, Mahón, mahonia, Mahound, mahout, Mahratta, Mahratti, Mähren, mahseer, mahua

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mahout in a sentence

One, a mahout, or tender, straddled the neck to guide the creature.
How to Capture an Elephant: Excerpt From Michael Daly’s ‘Topsy’|Michael Daly|July 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
From time to time the new mahout turned and smiled at her curiously, but she was too absorbed to note his attentions.
The Adventures of Kathlyn|Harold MacGrath
Bruce's mahout, who was a Rajput Mohammedan, turned his head to learn what his master had to say.
The Adventures of Kathlyn|Harold MacGrath
The mahout reached down with his silver tipped goad and touched the elephant on the knee.
The Adventures of Kathlyn|Harold MacGrath

Nevertheless, he permitted the mahout to direct him to one of the city gates, the soldiers trooping alongside.
The Adventures of Kathlyn|Harold MacGrath
The mahout, fully awake to the danger, beat the old rascal mightily with his goad.
The Adventures of Kathlyn|Harold MacGrath

British Dictionary definitions for mahout

mahout

/ (məˈhaʊt) /

noun

(in India and the East Indies) an elephant driver or keeper

Word Origin for mahout

C17: Hindi mahāut, from Sanskrit mahāmātra of great measure, originally a title

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012