war elephant
Ancient military mount
A war elephant is an elephant trained for combat, used historically in South and Southeast Asian, Persian, and Mediterranean warfare.
These animals carried archers or soldiers in mounted platforms and served to charge enemy formations, causing panic among troops and horses.
The practice dates to antiquity: Hannibal famously crossed the Alps with war elephants.
Modern usage is mostly historical or figurative.
Mounted military force
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- infantryGround combat troops
- battlefieldCombat engagement area
- chargeCost or accusation
armor · formation · tactics · maneuver · flank · campaign · fortification · battalion
Extended animal incisors
- trunkMain stem or storage
- pachydermThick-skinned hoofed mammal
- hideConceal or pelt
- bulkMain mass or size
mass · strength · tonnage · muscle · ivory · ears · feet · size
Causing intense alarm
- terrifyingEvoking extreme fear
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- dauntingDiscouraging through difficulty
stampede · thundering · trumpeting · panic · rout · psychological · morale · chaos
cavalry
Mounted military force
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- infantryGround combat troops
- battlefieldCombat engagement area
charge · armor · formation · tactics · maneuver · flank · campaign · fortification · battalion · phalanx
tusks
Extended animal incisors
bulk · mass · strength · tonnage · muscle · ivory · ears · feet · size · beast
fearsome
Causing intense alarm
- terrifyingEvoking extreme fear
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
- menacingConveying threat or danger
daunting · stampede · thundering · trumpeting · panic · rout · psychological · morale · chaos · crushing
ceremonial
Relating to formal rites
- royalOf monarchs
- processionFormal moving line
- paradeCeremonial public procession
throne · monarch · rajah · sultan · pageantry · grandeur · caparison · ornament · gilded · barding
- ancient weaponssword, swords, shield, shields, bow
- ancient warfarephalanx, army, legion, battle, hoplites
- Asian Warfaresamurai, ninja, katana, shogun, bushido
- war animalswar dog, war dogs, war horse, war horses, war pigeons
- Sasanian EmpireZoroastrianism, fire temple, cataphract, drachm, investiture
- medieval warfareknights, castle, castle siege, siege, castle defense
war elephantwar dog
Military-trained combat canine
messenger pigeon · carrier pigeon · scout dog · pack mule · homing pigeon
war elephantbattle tank
Armed, armored military vehicle
armored vehicle · main battle tank · armored personnel carrier · drone · military helicopter
elephant, wars, warred, warring, warlike, warrior, warriors, warfare, wartime