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Where does the word "mahout" come from? It comes from Sanskrit mahamatra, passing through Hindi before entering English (1810).
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Where does the word "mahout" come from? It comes from Sanskrit mahamatra, passing through Hindi before entering English (1810).
Mahout’s story begins in Sanskrit: mahamatra meant “high official; elephant keeper.” Compound of 'great' and 'measure', a title for a high official or elephant keeper. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as mahaut. Narrowed to mean specifically an elephant driver. It reached English by 1810 as mahout. British colonists in India adopted the word. Today, mahout means a person who works with, rides, and tends an elephant.
- Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient mahamatra "high official; elephant keeper", compound of 'great' and 'measure', a title for a high official or elephant keeper.
- Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval mahaut "an elephant driver or keeper", narrowed to mean specifically an elephant driver.
- Stage 3 · English · 1810 mahout "a person who rides and tends a working elephant", British colonists in India adopted the word.