The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Ankus \An"kus\, n. [Hind., fr. Skr. a[.n]ku[,c]a.] An elephant goad with a sharp spike and hook, resembling a short-handled boat hook. [India] --Kipling. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
ankus n 1: an elephant goad with a sharp spike and a hook