Where does “mahout” come from?

Mahout comes from Hindi महावत, derived from Sanskrit महामात्र, which combines Sanskrit मह (great) with Proto-Indo-Aryan maźʰás, from Proto-Indo-Iranian maȷ́ʰás, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European méǵh₂s meaning great or mighty.

mahout (English): An elephant driver and keeper; To drive elephants

Definitions

  1. An elephant driver and keeper; To drive elephants

Ancestry of “mahout”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Hindiमहावतmahout
2Sanskritमहामात्रhigh official
3Sanskritमहाcombining form of महत्; buffalo; great, large,...
4Proto-Indo-Aryanmaźʰā́—
5Proto-Indo-Iranianmaȷ́ʰā́big, great
6Proto-Indo-Europeanméǵh₂sbig, great
Every word from Proto-Indo-European méǵh₂s →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian maȷ́ʰā́ →Every word from Proto-Indo-Aryan maźʰā́ →