howdah

American  

[hou-duh] / ˈhaʊ də /

Or houdah

noun

1. (in the East Indies) a seat or platform for one or more persons, commonly with a railing and a canopy, placed on the back of an elephant.

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howdah British  

/ ˈhaʊdə /

noun

1. a seat for riding on an elephant's back, esp one with a canopy

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Etymology

Origin of howdah

1765–75; < Hindi haudah < Arabic hawdaj

Example Sentences

Some continue up the side stairs to Lucy’s ornate howdah, which is perched atop the 65-foot-tall elephant and offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic City skyline.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 27, 2020

Soon he was auctioning off land from the howdah perched atop Lucy, and the “world’s largest elephant” would go on to be visited by the likes of President Woodrow Wilson.

From Slate • Aug. 11, 2015

In this way the Rolls was made practically as good for a parade as an elephant & howdah.

From Time Magazine Archive

On the day of the wedding itself, Prince Birendra mounted a silver howdah atop an elephant at the Royal Palace, then led a two-mile procession through the capital.

From Time Magazine Archive

The king, his mahout and two of his guard come into the garden; slaves having placed the war howdah upon Gisco, they take their places, and the elephant lumbers off towards the great gate.

From Voices; Birth-Marks; The Man and the Elephant by Holt, Mathew Joseph