ankus

plural ankuses · alternative ankhus · alternative ankush · alternative ankusha

1. The hooked goad that is used in India to control elephants.

   He reached for the ivory handle of his ankus and turned to the stripling.

   2007, Michael Chabon, Gentlemen of the Road, Sceptre, published 2008, page 22

   1 more example

   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.

   1895, Rudyard Kipling, The King's Ankus