noun
- A stick or rod with a sharp hook or point at one end, used to control and guide an elephant.
Usage: Also spelled 'ankush'; Primarily used in South Asian contexts, especially India
Examples
- The mahout used an ankus to guide the elephant through the crowded street.
- The elephant trainer carried an ankus as part of his traditional equipment.
- In Indian temples, the ankus is sometimes depicted as an attribute of the deity Ganesha.
- The sharp point of the ankus allows the handler to communicate commands to the elephant.
- Historical records describe the ankus as an essential tool for elephant management in ancient kingdoms.