ควาญ

From Angkorian Old Khmer គ្វាល៑ (gvāl, “(1) one who tends or pastures animals: herdsman, grazier, keeper, etc; (2) to tend or pasture (animals)”). Cognate with Modern Khmer ឃ្វាល (khviəl); Lao ຄວນ (khūan) or ຄວານ (khuān).

ควาญ • (kwaan) (classifier คน)

1. (~ช้าง) mahout.
2. (archaic) keeper or driver (of any animal).

• The mahout mounted on the back of a war elephant is called กลางช้าง. That on the buttock is called ท้ายช้าง. The warrior is mounted on the neck.