ankou
|an-kou|
C2
/ˈæŋkuː/
personified death
Etymology
Etymology Information
'ankou' originates from Breton, specifically the word 'Ankoù', where 'an-' meant 'the' and 'kou' meant 'death'.
Historical Evolution
'ankou' changed from the Breton word 'Ankoù' and was adopted into English usage in writings about Breton and Celtic folklore as 'ankou'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred broadly to 'death' or 'the dead' in local usage, but over time it came to denote the specific personified figure or collector of souls known in folklore.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a figure in Breton folklore representing death or a collector of souls; often depicted as a driver or servant who gathers the dead.
In Breton legends, the Ankou drives a cart to collect the souls of the dead.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/14 17:37