ankus
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Hindi अंकुस (aṅkus)/अंकुश (aṅkuś), from Sanskrit अङ्कुश (aṅkuśa).
Pronunciation
Noun
ankus (plural ankuses)
- 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.