Musth

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /mʌst/

Definitions

1. A periodic state of heightened reproductive or aggressive behavior observed in male elephants during which they attract females and may display increased hostility towards rivals
2. A physiological phenomenon in certain male elephants marked by an increase in testosterone levels, leading to distinctive behaviors and potential aggression during mating season
3. An intense and distinctive phase for male elephants, characterized by a surge in hormonal activity that influences both mating rituals and interactions with other males

Etymology: The surprising thing about this word is how little of its meaning is English at all: it came in from Persian by way of the Indian subcontinent, where "mast" meant "drunk" long before anyone applied it to elephants. Classical Persian "mast" carried a cluster of senses, including "intoxicated," "in rut," and, in literary use, "of an elephant: in musth." The Persian word is traced back to a very old Indo-European root meaning "to be wet," the same idea that gives us words for moisture and soaking. Hindustani and Urdu, spoken across northern India and Pakistan, took the word over with its sense of intoxication intact. Its specialised use for the periodic surge of hormones in male elephants, which produces an oily secretion from a gland at the side of the head and an aggressive temperament, grew out of that older language of wild, unrestrained excitement. English adopted the term from these South Asian sources, and it has stayed in use among those who study and handle elephants.