ankus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1+Formal, Technical, Literary
Quick answer
What does “ankus” mean?
A short elephant goad with a sharp metal spike and hook, used for driving and controlling an elephant.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A short elephant goad with a sharp metal spike and hook, used for driving and controlling an elephant.
A tool symbolizing control or coercion, especially in historical or South Asian contexts. It can be used metaphorically to represent enforced direction or harsh authority.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage or meaning. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Evokes imagery of colonialism, mahouts, traditional elephant training, and historical power dynamics.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects. Encountered almost exclusively in specialized texts (zoology, history, cultural studies) or high-register literature.
Grammar
How to Use “ankus” in a Sentence
The mahout used an ankus to guide the elephant.The ankus is a traditional tool for elephant drivers.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, anthropological, zoological, or South Asian studies contexts.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used when specifically discussing elephant handling.
Technical
The correct term within the fields of zookeeping (specifically elephant management, though controversial), history of animal husbandry, and museology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ankus”
- Using 'ankus' to refer to any kind of prod or incentive (e.g., 'The bonus was an ankus for better performance').
- Pronouncing it as /ˈænkəs/ (like 'ankle') instead of /ˈaŋkəs/ or /ˈæŋkəs/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Modern animal welfare standards largely condemn the use of the ankus (or bullhook) as inhumane, associating it with pain and coercion. Its use is banned or restricted in many countries and progressive zoological institutions.
No, 'ankus' is solely a noun. There is no standard verb form 'to ankus'.
It originates from Hindi 'aṅkuś', which in turn comes from Sanskrit 'aṅkuśa', meaning 'hook' or 'goad'.
Essentially, yes. 'Bullhook' is the more modern, generic term used in zoological and animal rights contexts, while 'ankus' is the traditional South Asian term with specific cultural connotations.
A short elephant goad with a sharp metal spike and hook, used for driving and controlling an elephant.
Ankus is usually formal, technical, literary in register.
Ankus: in British English it is pronounced /ˈaŋkəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæŋkəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to wield the ankus of authority (rare, literary)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
An ankus ANnoys an elephant to make it move. Think: ANkus for ANimal control.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN AUTHORITY FIGURE IS AN ELEPHANT DRIVER; CONTROL IS A SHARP PROD.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'ankus' be LEAST appropriate?