Akela

/ɑːˈkeɪlə/ noun

Definition

In Scouting, particularly in British usage, a Cub Scout leader or the leader of a group of younger scouts.

Etymology

From Hindi akeela or akela meaning 'lone' or 'solitary,' popularized by Rudyard Kipling in 'The Jungle Book' where Akela is the leader of the wolf pack, who later became the title for scout leaders.

Kelly Says

Kipling basically invented the word 'akela' for scouting through his Jungle Book stories—a British author created a Hindu word for a fictional wolf, which then became official scouting terminology across the English-speaking world!

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