ankus

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Hindi अंकुस (aṅkus)/अंकुश (aṅkuś), from Sanskrit अङ्कुश (aṅkuśa).

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈaŋ.kəs/

Noun

ankus (plural ankuses)

  1. The hooked goad that is used in India to control elephants.
    • 1895, Rudyard Kipling, The King's Ankus:
      At last he found something really fascinating laid on the front of a howdah half buried in the coins. It was a three-foot ankus, or elephant-goad—something like a small boathook. The top was one round, shining ruby, and eight inches of the handle below it were studded with rough turquoises close together, giving a most satisfactory grip.
    • 2007, Michael Chabon, Gentlemen of the Road, Sceptre, published 2008, page 22:
      He reached for the ivory handle of his ankus and turned to the stripling.

Anagrams
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