ankus

[ ang-kuhs, uhng-kuhsh ]

noun

, plural an·kus, an·kus·es.

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

ankus

/ ˈæŋkəs /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ankus¹

1885–90; < Hindi; akin to angle ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of ankus¹

from Hindi

Example Sentences

“So the trainer just took the ankus and tapped underneath the trunk near his mouth and asked him to lift his trunk up higher. And he did,” Shumaker said.

From Washington Post

Ringling elephants spend most of their long lives either in chains or on trains, under constant threat of the bullhook, or ankus—the menacing tool used to control elephants.

From Time

He caught an ankus, or elephant hook, from one of his helpers, and, taking a stand directly in the path of the onrushing Minnie, he raised the sharp instrument threateningly.

From Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg