mahout

/məˈhaʊt/

Etymology

PIE word *méǵh₂s The noun is borrowed from Hindustani (Hindi महौत (mahaut)/Urdu مَہَوت (mahaut)), महाउत (mahāut), variants of महावत (mahāvat)/مَہاوَت (mahāvat), from Sanskrit महामात्र (mahāmātra, “elephant keeper; high official; king’s minister”), from महा (mahā, “great”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s (“big, great”)) + मात्र (mātra, “measure; quantity”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *meh₁- (“to measure”)). The verb is derived from the noun.

Why this word is great

MAHOUT — [Noun] A person who trains, keeps, and drives elephants, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. From Hindi महौत (mahaut)/Urdu مَہَوت (mahaut), variants of महावत (mahāvat)/مَہاوَت (mahāvat), from Sanskrit महामात्र (mahāmātra, "elephant keeper; high official"), from महा (mahā, "great") (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s, "big, great") + मात्र (mātra, "measure; quantity") (from Proto-Indo-European *meh₁-, "to measure"). Unlike "oozie" (specific to Burmese handlers) or "elephant handler" (a clinical, generic term), "mahout" carries the weight of centuries—a vocation as much as a title. It is the calloused hands gripping a goad, the murmured commands in a language only elephants understand, the slow, swaying procession of beast and man through monsoon-slick jungles—a partnership older than empires, yet as fragile as a whisper.

noun

An elephant trainer, keeper, and driver.“The Serrievvan hath the overſight of the Camels, and the Mahout, that of the Elephants.”

verb

To drive (an elephant or elephants).“Word was passed down the river, the call going out for the bravest of Brul mahouting only the strongest of mounts.”
To drive elephants.“First a team of six ponied pulling a miniature fire engine jumping with midget firefighters, then a dozen scantily mahouted elephants painted pink, came out of the arc light and sawdut into neon glow and mirroring asphalt.”